Chapter 61 of Tessa and The Stranger in the Plane

Posted by Goodsport from adsl-216-102-199-185.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net on December 27, 1999 at 12:39:10:

: Chapter 61 [Day of Reckoning] (written by Goodsport)

: Nobody, the Fiddler and Mack stood in the dense forest with swords drawn toward their adversaries. Although The Chosen, Krede and the rest of the Order of the Ringwraiths were elsewhere, Nobody was glad to have the fifty or so Dark Elves around him with swords, spears, daggers and bows drawn as well. He knew that neither he nor the Fiddler or Mack had any clue how to use their medieval weapons very well; to his consolation, though, he also knew that neither the Phoenix Group nor any of the others accompanying them did either. Watching Micah and his group drawing their swords and bows as if they knew what they were doing was somewhat amusing to him.
: "Micah, my friend!" Nobody announced mockingly, "I understand that you have one of ours. Drop your weapons and give her to us."
: Micah shook his head as Michaelson rolled his eyes. "And if we don't?"
: Nobody grinned, waving his free hand toward his new Dark Elven compatriots, their dark blue skin and shock of white hair upon their tall and slender frames standing out somewhat in the forest. "Face itÖ they're the only ones here who really know how to use their weapons!"
: Indiana Jerico sighed in disgust. "He's right!" he growled quietly through clenched teeth, "We were trained to use so many different weapons, but never with these things!"

: - - -

: The Chosen glanced at the molten lava below him. From the entrance to the cave inside Mount Doom, he turned to find Krede and Mikal making final preparations on the stone altar table.
: Mikal, custodian of the cave and fellow Order of the Ringwraiths member, placed the final marble goblet on the table as Krede kneeled before his master. "All is ready, SarumanÖ"
: The sudden glare of anger and hate stopped Krede from completing the sentence.
: "Don't ever call me that aloud!" fumed the Chosen, "Lest you value death more than life!"
: Trembling, Krede fell to both knees. "Please forgive me, Chosen!"
: The Chosen glanced away. I have not used that name for ages, especially since I surrendered my soul to serve Sauron! He turned around and inquired, "What was your news?"
: Mikal turned his head. "All is ready, except for the three needed to complete the circle."
: "Excellent!" the Chosen announced, "Retrieve them, then."
: Krede trembled. "But Chosen, Nobody and his men are still out thereÖ"
: Lifting his hand silence Krede, the Chosen shut his eyes in thought. "Nobody and his band of fools are of no consequence to me!" So Nobody wants to use Valinor's power for his own endsÖ hah! There soon will be no more Valinor to use!
: Krede bowed and backed off. "As you wish, Chosen One." Krede left the volcanic cave to let loose the darkness.

: - - -

: The ground shook violently for several seconds, but to no avail. The Phoenix Group and their companions looked up from the ground to see the Dark Elves unmoved.
: Resigned to their situation, Micah, Michaelson, Indy, Aragorn, Indiana Jerico, Meg, Goodsport, Short Round, Quint Glimsby, Ben (friend of Indy), IndyAntilles, Indiana James Lambert, Brett Lambert, Lauren Jones, Micki Jones and Tessa all had no choice but to toss their weapons into a pile somewhere between them and where Nobody, the Fiddler and Mack stood. The Man with the Hat tossed Aragorn's Sword into the same pile. Indiana Jones continued leaning on his cane, while Tom Bambadil still held on to his white water lilies.
: Lauren discreetly turned her head toward her father. "Dad, I don't understand," she whispered, "Valinor is the continent on this world where the worthy go when they dieÖ it's supposed to be the peaceful continent!"
: "I know," her father whispered back, "all this conflict shouldn't be happening here, but on Middle-Earth across the ocean! And how did the Dark Elves get here?!?"
: Lauren stared dumbfounded at her father.
: "What?" Henry Jones, Jr. answered his daughter's silence, "I've read Tolkien too, you know!"
: The sound of rustling from the trees behind the Dark Elves spun a few of them backwards, only for them to allow the visitor to reach Nobody. The visitor spoke with a British accent.
: "Sir, the tremors are getting worseÖ who knows how much longer the rupture will stay open. If we're to do it, it better be soon!"
: Goodsport glared at the visitor, his voice quivering in shock, his eyes slitting in anger. "Muppet?!?"
: Muppet smiled in his direction as he walked up to him. "Goodsport, ol' boy! How nice to see you. Thanks ever so much for helping lead us here!"
: Goodsport caught everyone glancing at him. "Dammit Muppet, I didn't know you were consorting with evil! You were supposed to protect Valinor's location!"
: Nobody giggled as both the Fiddler and Mack stood as cold and still as statues, swords drawn.
: "Live and learn, eh gov'?" Muppet continued, "But I suppose you all won't be living for much longer."
: "He's British!" observed Micki aloud, her French accent crackling in anger, "That figures!"
: Muppet glanced at Micki, sarcastically making sniffing sounds and motions with his nose. "At least we English take baths regularly!"
: Micki growled, coiling to pounce at the Vanguard traitor. The raised bows and arrows from the nearby Dark Elves convinced her stay her ground.
: Short Round took a step forward, to which the Dark Elves shifted their bows and arrows at him. "Leave her alone, you buttheads!"
: Micki turned to Short Round and peered at him tenderly. "Short RoundÖ don't!"
: "Aww, isn't that sweet!" Muppet commented mockingly. He then reached for Goodsport's backpack and unceremoniously ripped it off his shoulder. Taking a few steps back, Muppet unzipped the backpack and pulled out both the Tolkien book and Theoden's Spear spearhead. Showing the two items to Nobody and receiving his nod of approval, Muppet stuffed them back into the backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
: Nobody motioned toward Deirdre. "Come with us, my dear!"
: With all her might, Deirdre turned and kneed Indiana James in the groin. She then swiveled around and punched Tessa in the face.
: "DeirdreÖ ENOUGH!!!" commanded Nobody, glancing at Deirdre's two victims, one crouched on the ground gasping for air while the other was attempting to stop the bleeding from her nose. "No need to soil your hands on that scumÖ that's what our friends here are for. Come, we have work to do!"
: "Bitch!" tossed Deirdre to Tessa with an evil grin as she strode over to Nobody.
: Nobody, Deirdre and Muppet started to walk away. The Fiddler eyed Brett and Indiana James with glee, the expression on his face revealing to them that the death he would administer to them would not be quick and painless.
: Mack turned to Nobody and asked, "What shall we do with them?"
: "What do you think?" came Mack's reply as Nobody, Deirdre and Muppet disappeared into the forest, "Kill themÖ how you do it is up to you!"

: - - -

: The ground shook under the stomping of hundreds of hooves, the cloud of dust raised by their onrush detracting them not one bit. Gandalf had explained everything to them. They have traveled all the way from Gondor to greet the return of the two who had led them from the darkness of the Third Age and the only ones who could lead them from the darkness of the Fourth Age they were now in.
: The rupture in the sky and the earthquakes on the ground were unlike anything they could ever have imagined before; not even Lady Arwen Evenstar, in all her years, could ever remember anything like it. Middle-Earth and Gondor had seen its share of troubles in the past, as had Rivendell, Lothlorien and the mines of Moria, but not Valinor - how could the continent of afterlife-peace come to this?
: As Boromir let the charge on his mighty steed, he did all he could to keep his horn-rimmed helmet from flying off his head. His thick beard hid his chiseled features upon his massive, powerful stature, all of which complimented his equally massive and powerful horse. The ring on his thick left-hand ring finger began to glow, and Boromir knew he and his fellow Stewards of Gondor were close. He surmised at the moment that the two were in the hands of the VanguardsÖ or was that another of Sauron's tricks? Either way, Boromir knew that he had to reach both his younger brother Faramir and his ranger compatriot Aragorn first, or else Valinor and the rest of the world would be vanquished by the Nine Mortal Men doomed to die!

: - - -

: Smaug flapped his powerful wings, creating enough of a wind to knock a whole column of Orcs of their feet. He flew above them, avoiding their spears while surveying where his prey had disappeared. Preparing to shoot another burst of fire toward the Orcs down below, Smaug noticed the Orcs fleeing the area, screaming in fear. He turned his powerful neck, only to meet head-on by one of the many rivers of substanceless darkness. Smaug was no more, absorbed into the rivers of substanceless darkness. The rivers, however, pressed on toward the forest.

: - - -

: "So Fiddler," Mack asked, "how do you want to go about killing them?"
: The Fiddler glanced at both Lamberts. "I'll deal with the brothers. You and the Dark Elves can deal with the rest!"
: Mack shrugged his shoulders as he and the Dark Elves raised their weapons. "Fine with me."
: The Fiddler pointed to the Dark Elven archers. "ReadyÖ"
: Tom Bambadil lifted the lilies in his hand and cleared his throat.
: "AimÖ"
: Tessa felt her ring begin to glow warmly, as did Goodsport, Meg, Short Round and Quint Glimsby.
: Tom spread his arms out and began singing:
: "I had an errand there: gathering water-lilies,
: green leaves and lilies white to please my pretty lady,"
: The Dark Elves stared dumbfounded, as did the Fiddler, Mack and all of Tom's comrades.
: "The last ere the year's end to keep them from the winter,
: to flower by her pretty feet till the snows are melted."
: A scream was heard from the rear of the Dark Elves' group. Everyone turned in that direction to see a tree lifting a Dark Elf swordsman into the air, its branches grabbing his legs.
: "Each year at summer's end I go to find them for her,
: in a wide pool, deep and clear, far down Withywindle,"
: A giant tree root from another tree pulled itself from out of the ground and swiped ten Dark Elves off their feet, their weapons flying from their hands.
: "There they open first in spring and there they linger latest.
: By that pool long ago I found the River-daughter,"
: All the surrounding trees began pulling their roots from out of the ground and walking around, using their roots as 'feet' and their branches as 'arms' to swat at the Dark Elves. Too panicked to concentrate on their original targets, most of the Dark Elves began hacking their swords and shooting their arrows at the trees.
: "Fair young Goldberry sitting in the rushes.
: Sweet was her singing then, and her heart was beating!"
: In all the confusion, the Fiddler turned to the ten remaining Dark Elves with bows still in hand and screamed, "Fire!"
: As if on cue, the ten Dark Elves raised their bows and fired their weapons. The Phoenix Group, the Vanguards, the Joneses, the Lamberts and The Man with the Hat and Tessa all shut their eyes and braced themselves for their deaths. Tom Bambadil continued singing.
: "And that proved well for you - for now I shall no longer
: go down deep again along the forest-water,"
: They heard the thud of arrows on wood and breathed a sigh of relief. Opening their eyes, they saw two trees bend down in between them and the Dark Elven archers, having absorbed the arrows' impact.
: "Not while the year is old. Nor shall I be passing
: Old Man Willow's house this side if spring-time,"
: Mack thrust his sword into a tree, only to be met in the face with a tree branch's powerful punch. Mack was out cold.
: The Fiddler lifted his sword, only to have it kicked out of his hands by a tree root. The Fiddler pulled out his loaded Glock-19 and pointed it up at the tree. He pulled the triggerÖ it didn't fire.
: "OH SHÖ" escaped from the Fiddler's mouth before a giant tree branch knocked him unconscious. The remaining Dark Elves shared the same fate.
: "Not till the merry spring, when the River-daughter
: dances down the withy-path to bathe in the water."
: The Man with the Hat barely had time to lift Aragorn's Sword from the pile of weapons they had left when a tree whisked him up, holding him around the waist. Another tree lifted the Fiddler and Mack.
: Quint Glimsby snorted in laughter as his thick glasses almost fell off his face from his sudden whisking into a tree, being held at the waist by the tree's thick branches. "HehehÖ this is keen!"
: Micah, Michaelson, Indy, Aragorn, Indiana Jerico, Meg, Goodsport, Short Round, Ben (friend of Indy), IndyAntilles, Indiana James Lambert, Brett Lambert, Indiana Jones, Lauren Jones, Micki Jones, Tom Bambadil and Tessa each had a tree whisk them up, holding each person by the waist with their thick branches.
: The glowing of the rings intensified, and began 'pulling' Tessa's, Goodsport's, Meg's, Short Round's and Quint Glimsby's arms outward. The trees that held them began running across the plain in the direction of the 'pull', and all the other trees of the forest followed the human-bearing trees in hot pursuit.

: - - -

: Krede and the Order of the Ringwraiths were supposed to meet them in the middle of the plain, yet Nobody, Deirdre and Muppet were the only ones around clearly in sight. The only other thing they saw was the cloud of dust on the horizon, which was obviously not a good sign. They stood there, contemplating whether they could outrun whatever army was heading their way. They peered to their right and discovered another cloud of dust approaching. The three of them started running in the only direction that was obvious for their survival - from where they came from. They stopped in their tracks, though, after discovering a third mass on the horizon closing in on their position. They gawked when they saw that it was an army ofÖ trees!

: - - -

: "Chosen, all is ready," Krede told his master, as Mikal placed the final carving knives onto the altar table, "the lava is rising, and we will soon have the three we need!"
: The Chosen, or Saruman to those who knew him, looked pleased. Once the blood was collected, it would only be a matter of time before the One Ring was found. After 3000 years, Sauron will finally be invincible - no, omnipotent! And there's not a blasted thing that Gandalf or any of his cronies can do to stop it!

: - - -

: The trees stopped in their tracks. Held tightly in the trees' branches, Micah and company hastily surveyed their surroundings. Three people were running toward them from up ahead on the plain, and they were followed by an unfamiliar group of horsemen.
: Something was wrong, Aragorn knew. It looked all too familiar to him.
: "Jerico, it's like dÈj++ vu," Aragorn informed his fellow agent, who was held by the tree right next to his, "this is the exact spot that I envisioned in my fainting spells. Just not with all these people."
: Indiana Jerico shot a confused glance at him. "If no one was there in your vision, then how were you in danger?"
: Aragorn began to speak again, only to have the ground shake him into silence. The earthquake lasted several seconds, but the rupture high above began to fill the sky with a blood-red hue.
: "Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Gandalf's distinctive voice beamed in Aragorn's mind, "it is beginning earlier than any of us could have predicted!"
: Huh? thought Aragorn, Who is this? What's beginning?
: "Aragorn!" an unfamiliar voice boomed. Aragorn, Jerico and the rest turned their heads to see hundreds of haughty horsemen upon their mighty steeds. A few of the horsemen in the rear of the pack galloped ahead onto the plain, while the horseman at the lead galloped his horse to the base of the tree holding Aragorn.
: "Most certainly a strange sight to see, the running of trees and such!" boomed the massive warrior-horseman, releasing a deep, hearty laugh. " 'tis the work of Tom Bambadil, I would imagine!"
: "Aye it is, noble Boromir!" answered the bard from his tree.
: Boromir gazed at Aragorn and Indiana Jerico, who gazed back down at him. He looked oddly familiar to them, but they couldn't remember why.
: "Aragorn, noble son of Arathorn. You have returned!"
: Aragorn shook his head as the trees that held him and Indiana Jerico lowered them gently onto the rolling grass. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't know who youÖ"
: "And Faramir, my brother!" interrupted Boromir gleefully, sliding off his mount. He took a few steps toward Indiana Jerico and embraced him mightily, lifting the much shorter Jerico off his feet. "Again we unite to save Gondor - and today, Valinor!"
: Indiana Jerico was losing consciousness in Boromir's powerful hug. "UhhÖ IÖ can'tÖ breatheÖ"
: The attention of both the horsemen and the tree-riders alike tuned toward the plains. The horsemen who had separated from the group returned, with three other people slung over the horses' backs, hands tied.
: Letting go of his younger brother, Boromir walked over to the newly arrived horsemen. "And who dost these three be?"
: Deirdre slid off the horse she was slung over. With her hands and feet tied, she hopped over toward Boromir. "DAMNIT!!! UNTIE ME NOW, OR I'LL SUE!!!"
: Motioning the tree to lower her down (which it did), Tessa briskly made her toward Deirdre and curled her fist tight.
: "Sue thisÖ bitch!!!" Tessa punctuated her sentence with a fist to Deirdre's face, sending Deirdre sprawling onto the ground with a cut lip.
: "Tessa, no more of that!" Michaelson chided, as he and Micah were lowered to the ground. They walked over to view the other two other captured figures, both of which were also tied at the hands and feet.
: Goodsport walked over to Muppet. "Muppet, why?"
: Through slitted eyes, Muppet responded. "Why do you think? You think Gandalf would have given me power and riches???"
: Micah walked up to Nobody. "Looks like someone's going to be doing hard time for a long time!"
: Nobody snickered. "Not likely, Micah. My lawyers will have me out within an hour of extradition!"
: Micah turned to Michaelson, who lowered his head in disgust. They both knew that Nobody was right - the justice system in the U.S. heavily favored those with the craftiest lawyers, and Nobody could definitely afford the craftiest of the lot.
: The flash of light among the trees caught everyone by surprise.

: - - -

: The Chosen watched as the lava continued rising. He stuck his hands into the pockets of his robe, and surprise flooded his senses. The ring was not there!

: - - -

: "Sir Gandalf?!?" a startled Meg called out from high in her tree.
: Brett grimaced. "Oh no, not him again!"
: "Yeah!" agreed Indiana James, "Why does he keep doing that?"
: Gandalf stepped out into the crowd and faced Indiana Jerico. With one of his hand in the air, an object flew out of Nobody's pocket and into Gandalf's awaiting hand.
: Micah glanced at Nobody with a sarcastic grin. "Pick-pocketing allies, now are we?"
: "Hey. c'mon!" Quint chortled, his view blocked by some of the other trees, "I can't see!"
: Gandalf stepped toward Indiana Jerico. "Young Faramir, it is now time you knew your true past!"
: The wizard slipped Faramir's Ring on Indiana Jerico's left-hand ring finger, and a surge of light passed over him. Memories of being raised by the nobles of Gondor, of fighting alongside his older brother Boromir against the Orcs of the plains, and the climactic battle of the end of the Third Age that, until now, brought an end to the troubles of Middle-Earth and the other continents.
: "I do remember now, Sir Gandalf!" exclaimed Indiana Jerico. Everyone gawked at Jerico's sudden change in mannerism, Meg most of all.
: Having the tree gently place her onto the ground, Meg walked over to Jerico. "What's happened to you, Jerico?"
: "Aye, Lady Megan. I remember now who I have always been."
: The Man with the Hat suddenly felt Aragorn's Sword heat up. Before he could drop the sword, it flew out of his hand and into Aragorn's. As with Faramir/Indiana Jerico, the light produced by the sword washed over Aragorn, and long-forgotten memories flooded him as well. Memories of his being raised by the Elves of the Northern Forest, of his fighting alongside the Elves against the Wyverns, Kobolds, Dark Elves and Orcs, his betrothment to Lady Arwen, and his role in the defeat of SauronÖ or so he had believed until now.
: "Hey!" The Man with the Hat screamed, "Give me my sword back!"
: Everyone's heads jerked toward the top of the hill in the distance as the ground shook from the approaching Orcs.

: - - -

: Saruman turned to Mikal. "Where is my ring?!?"
: Bowing in terror, Mikal answered, "I swear, Chosen. I do not have it!"
: Saruman closed his eyes and concentrated, pointing to both Mikal and Krede. He then opened his eyes, releasing that Mikal had told him the truth, and that Krede did not take it either.
: Nobody! Saruman realized to himself. No matter - that ring is of no longer any consequence to me. All I need now is the One Ring of Power. And the true Ringwraiths, the Nine Mortal Men Doomed to Die, will retrieve it for me!

: - - -

: The horsemen jumped on their horses and armed their weapons. Everyone else who was on the ground had a tree lift each of them into the air. They all braced them themselves for the onrushing Orcs.
: Screaming with terror, the Orcs rushed around and past the group of humans, horses and trees as if they were not there.
: "What the heck is going on?" IndyAntilles asked Ben (friend of Indy), who could only answer back with a shrug.
: Before anyone could react, the reason for the Orcs' fright became apparent - the rivers of substanceless darkness crested the hilltop and rushed their way forward. The rivers shot their way forward, when they suddenly formed into three lines and and shot straight into the group. One of the rivers hit enveloped Short Round, the second engulfed Indiana James, and the third confiscated Brett Lambert. Carrying their three captives within them, the rivers flew into the air and into the far off mountain range.
: "Shorty!" Micki gasped, tears flooding her cheeks, "Where were they taken to?"
: Gandalf bowed his head. "To Mount Doom. It has already begun!"
: Faramir stepped up to the wizard. "Sir Gandalf. Mount Doom is in Mordor, not Valinor!"
: The wizard leaned forward. "Sauron has somehow transported Mount Doom to Valinor. If Valinor cannot hold out against him, all is lostÖ for this world," the wizard then pointed to Micah, "and for yours!"
: Aragorn lifted his sword, which glimmered with light despite the blood-red clouds now blocking of the sun. "Onward, noble Stewards of Gondor. We shall defeat Sauron and his bunch for one last time!"
: The horsemen cheered in triumph as Boromir embraced Aragorn. "Aye, 'tis the Aragorn we know and respect! Come Aragorn. Come Farimir. Help us rid Valinor of the darkness!"
: "This is weird!" Indy stated as he shook his head. He looked at his hundred-year-old namesake in the next tree, surprised that he was holding up so well. Lauren Jones also looked at her father, with the same concerns.
: Indy then glanced at Meg, who answered his glance with tearful eyes. He could only imagine what she was going through now, her heart torn between him and Indiana Jerico, who had appeared to become a totally different person.
: Aragorn mounted an unridden steed. He lifted his sword and screemed, "Onward, to Mount Doom!" With that his horse strode off into the horizon. Boromir, with his newly found brother Faramir to his side on his horse, rode off after Aragorn.
: Faramir turned toward the horsemen, his fellow Stewards of Gondor, and led them in following Aragorn and Boromir.
: The trees lifted the remaining people who were still on the ground, including Gandalf and the tied up Nobody, Deirdre and Muppet, along with the unconscious Mack. The trees then followed the horses onward toward Mount Doom.

: -----

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: : Chapter 61 [Day of Reckoning] (written by Goodsport)

: : Nobody, the Fiddler and Mack stood in the dense forest with swords drawn toward their adversaries.  Although The Chosen, Krede and the rest of the Order of the Ringwraiths were elsewhere, Nobody was glad to have the fifty or so Dark Elves around him with swords, spears, daggers and bows drawn as well.  He knew that neither he nor the Fiddler or Mack had any clue how to use their medieval weapons very well; to his consolation, though, he also knew that neither the Phoenix Group nor any of the others accompanying them did either.  Watching Micah and his group drawing their swords and bows as if they knew what they were doing was somewhat amusing to him.
: : "Micah, my friend!" Nobody announced mockingly, "I understand that you have one of ours.  Drop your weapons and give her to us."
: : Micah shook his head as Michaelson rolled his eyes.  "And if we don't?"
: : Nobody grinned, waving his free hand toward his new Dark Elven compatriots, their dark blue skin and shock of white hair upon their tall and slender frames standing out somewhat in the forest.  "Face itÖ they're the only ones here who really know how to use their weapons!"
: : Indiana Jerico sighed in disgust.  "He's right!" he growled quietly through clenched teeth, "We were trained to use so many different weapons, but never with these things!"

: : - - -

: : The Chosen glanced at the molten lava below him. From the entrance to the cave inside Mount Doom, he turned to find Krede and Mikal making final preparations on the stone altar table.
: : Mikal, custodian of the cave and fellow Order of the Ringwraiths member, placed the final marble goblet on the table as Krede kneeled before his master. "All is ready, SarumanÖ"
: : The sudden glare of anger and hate stopped Krede from completing the sentence.
: : "Don't ever call me that aloud!" fumed the Chosen, "Lest you value death more than life!"
: : Trembling, Krede fell to both knees. "Please forgive me, Chosen!"
: : The Chosen glanced away. I have not used that name for ages, especially since I surrendered my soul to serve Sauron! He turned around and inquired, "What was your news?"
: : Mikal turned his head. "All is ready, except for the three needed to complete the circle."
: : "Excellent!" the Chosen announced, "Retrieve them, then."
: : Krede trembled. "But Chosen, Nobody and his men are still out thereÖ"
: : Lifting his hand silence Krede, the Chosen shut his eyes in thought. "Nobody and his band of fools are of no consequence to me!" So Nobody wants to use Valinor's power for his own endsÖ hah! There soon will be no more Valinor to use!
: : Krede bowed and backed off. "As you wish, Chosen One." Krede left the volcanic cave to let loose the darkness.

: : - - -

: : The ground shook violently for several seconds, but to no avail. The Phoenix Group and their companions looked up from the ground to see the Dark Elves unmoved.
: : Resigned to their situation, Micah, Michaelson, Indy, Aragorn, Indiana Jerico, Meg, Goodsport, Short Round, Quint Glimsby, Ben (friend of Indy), IndyAntilles, Indiana James Lambert, Brett Lambert, Lauren Jones, Micki Jones and Tessa all had no choice but to toss their weapons into a pile somewhere between them and where Nobody, the Fiddler and Mack stood. The Man with the Hat tossed Aragorn's Sword into the same pile. Indiana Jones continued leaning on his cane, while Tom Bambadil still held on to his white water lilies. 
: : Lauren discreetly turned her head toward her father. "Dad, I don't understand," she whispered, "Valinor is the continent on this world where the worthy go when they dieÖ it's supposed to be the peaceful continent!"
: : "I know," her father whispered back, "all this conflict shouldn't be happening here, but on Middle-Earth across the ocean! And how did the Dark Elves get here?!?"
: : Lauren stared dumbfounded at her father.
: : "What?" Henry Jones, Jr. answered his daughter's silence, "I've read Tolkien too, you know!"
: : The sound of rustling from the trees behind the Dark Elves spun a few of them backwards, only for them to allow the visitor to reach Nobody. The visitor spoke with a British accent.
: : "Sir, the tremors are getting worseÖ who knows how much longer the rupture will stay open. If we're to do it, it better be soon!"
: : Goodsport glared at the visitor, his voice quivering in shock, his eyes slitting in anger. "Muppet?!?"
: : Muppet smiled in his direction as he walked up to him. "Goodsport, ol' boy! How nice to see you. Thanks ever so much for helping lead us here!"
: : Goodsport caught everyone glancing at him. "Dammit Muppet, I didn't know you were consorting with evil! You were supposed to protect Valinor's location!"
: : Nobody giggled as both the Fiddler and Mack stood as cold and still as statues, swords drawn.
: : "Live and learn, eh gov'?" Muppet continued, "But I suppose you all won't be living for much longer."
: : "He's British!" observed Micki aloud, her French accent crackling in anger, "That figures!"
: : Muppet glanced at Micki, sarcastically making sniffing sounds and motions with his nose. "At least we English take baths regularly!"
: : Micki growled, coiling to pounce at the Vanguard traitor. The raised bows and arrows from the nearby Dark Elves convinced her stay her ground.
: : Short Round took a step forward, to which the Dark Elves shifted their bows and arrows at him. "Leave her alone, you buttheads!"
: : Micki turned to Short Round and peered at him tenderly. "Short RoundÖ don't!"
: : "Aww, isn't that sweet!" Muppet commented mockingly. He then reached for Goodsport's backpack and unceremoniously ripped it off his shoulder. Taking a few steps back, Muppet unzipped the backpack and pulled out both the Tolkien book and Theoden's Spear spearhead. Showing the two items to Nobody and receiving his nod of approval, Muppet stuffed them back into the backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
: : Nobody motioned toward Deirdre. "Come with us, my dear!"
: : With all her might, Deirdre turned and kneed Indiana James in the groin. She then swiveled around and punched Tessa in the face.
: : "DeirdreÖ ENOUGH!!!" commanded Nobody, glancing at Deirdre's two victims, one crouched on the ground gasping for air while the other was attempting to stop the bleeding from her nose. "No need to soil your hands on that scumÖ that's what our friends here are for. Come, we have work to do!"
: : "Bitch!" tossed Deirdre to Tessa with an evil grin as she strode over to Nobody. 
: : Nobody, Deirdre and Muppet started to walk away. The Fiddler eyed Brett and Indiana James with glee, the expression on his face revealing to them that the death he would administer to them would not be quick and painless.
: : Mack turned to Nobody and asked, "What shall we do with them?"
: : "What do you think?" came Mack's reply as Nobody, Deirdre and Muppet disappeared into the forest, "Kill themÖ how you do it is up to you!"

: : - - -

: : The ground shook under the stomping of hundreds of hooves, the cloud of dust raised by their onrush detracting them not one bit.  Gandalf had explained everything to them.  They have traveled all the way from Gondor to greet the return of the two who had led them from the darkness of the Third Age and the only ones who could lead them from the darkness of the Fourth Age they were now in.
: : The rupture in the sky and the earthquakes on the ground were unlike anything they could ever have imagined before; not even Lady Arwen Evenstar, in all her years, could ever remember anything like it.  Middle-Earth and Gondor had seen its share of troubles in the past, as had Rivendell, Lothlorien and the mines of Moria, but not Valinor - how could the continent of afterlife-peace come to this?
: : As Boromir let the charge on his mighty steed, he did all he could to keep his horn-rimmed helmet from flying off his head.  His thick beard hid his chiseled features upon his massive, powerful stature, all of which complimented his equally massive and powerful horse.  The ring on his thick left-hand ring finger began to glow, and Boromir knew he and his fellow Stewards of Gondor were close.  He surmised at the moment that the two were in the hands of the VanguardsÖ or was that another of Sauron's tricks?  Either way, Boromir knew that he had to reach both his younger brother Faramir and his ranger compatriot Aragorn first, or else Valinor and the rest of the world would be vanquished by the Nine Mortal Men doomed to die!

: : - - -

: : Smaug flapped his powerful wings, creating enough of a wind to knock a whole column of Orcs of their feet.  He flew above them, avoiding their spears while surveying where his prey had disappeared.  Preparing to shoot another burst of fire toward the Orcs down below, Smaug noticed the Orcs fleeing the area, screaming in fear.  He turned his powerful neck, only to meet head-on by one of the many rivers of substanceless darkness.  Smaug was no more, absorbed into the rivers of substanceless darkness.  The rivers, however, pressed on toward the forest.

: : - - -

: : "So Fiddler," Mack asked, "how do you want to go about killing them?"
: : The Fiddler glanced at both Lamberts. "I'll deal with the brothers. You and the Dark Elves can deal with the rest!"
: : Mack shrugged his shoulders as he and the Dark Elves raised their weapons. "Fine with me."
: : The Fiddler pointed to the Dark Elven archers. "ReadyÖ"
: : Tom Bambadil lifted the lilies in his hand and cleared his throat.
: : "AimÖ"
: : Tessa felt her ring begin to glow warmly, as did Goodsport, Meg, Short Round and Quint Glimsby.
: : Tom spread his arms out and began singing:
: : "I had an errand there: gathering water-lilies,
: : green leaves and lilies white to please my pretty lady,"
: : The Dark Elves stared dumbfounded, as did the Fiddler, Mack and all of Tom's comrades.
: : "The last ere the year's end to keep them from the winter,
: : to flower by her pretty feet till the snows are melted."
: : A scream was heard from the rear of the Dark Elves' group. Everyone turned in that direction to see a tree lifting a Dark Elf swordsman into the air, its branches grabbing his legs.
: : "Each year at summer's end I go to find them for her,
: : in a wide pool, deep and clear, far down Withywindle,"
: : A giant tree root from another tree pulled itself from out of the ground and swiped ten Dark Elves off their feet, their weapons flying from their hands.
: : "There they open first in spring and there they linger latest.
: : By that pool long ago I found the River-daughter,"
: : All the surrounding trees began pulling their roots from out of the ground and walking around, using their roots as 'feet' and their branches as 'arms' to swat at the Dark Elves. Too panicked to concentrate on their original targets, most of the Dark Elves began hacking their swords and shooting their arrows at the trees.
: : "Fair young Goldberry sitting in the rushes.
: : Sweet was her singing then, and her heart was beating!"
: : In all the confusion, the Fiddler turned to the ten remaining Dark Elves with bows still in hand and screamed, "Fire!"
: : As if on cue, the ten Dark Elves raised their bows and fired their weapons. The Phoenix Group, the Vanguards, the Joneses, the Lamberts and The Man with the Hat and Tessa all shut their eyes and braced themselves for their deaths. Tom Bambadil continued singing.
: : "And that proved well for you - for now I shall no longer
: : go down deep again along the forest-water,"
: : They heard the thud of arrows on wood and breathed a sigh of relief. Opening their eyes, they saw two trees bend down in between them and the Dark Elven archers, having absorbed the arrows' impact.
: : "Not while the year is old. Nor shall I be passing
: : Old Man Willow's house this side if spring-time,"
: : Mack thrust his sword into a tree, only to be met in the face with a tree branch's powerful punch. Mack was out cold.
: : The Fiddler lifted his sword, only to have it kicked out of his hands by a tree root. The Fiddler pulled out his loaded Glock-19 and pointed it up at the tree. He pulled the triggerÖ it didn't fire.
: : "OH SHÖ" escaped from the Fiddler's mouth before a giant tree branch knocked him unconscious. The remaining Dark Elves shared the same fate.
: : "Not till the merry spring, when the River-daughter
: : dances down the withy-path to bathe in the water."
: : The Man with the Hat barely had time to lift Aragorn's Sword from the pile of weapons they had left when a tree whisked him up, holding him around the waist. Another tree lifted the Fiddler and Mack.
: : Quint Glimsby snorted in laughter as his thick glasses almost fell off his face from his sudden whisking into a tree, being held at the waist by the tree's thick branches. "HehehÖ this is keen!"
: : Micah, Michaelson, Indy, Aragorn, Indiana Jerico, Meg, Goodsport, Short Round, Ben (friend of Indy), IndyAntilles, Indiana James Lambert, Brett Lambert, Indiana Jones, Lauren Jones, Micki Jones, Tom Bambadil and Tessa each had a tree whisk them up, holding each person by the waist with their thick branches.
: : The glowing of the rings intensified, and began 'pulling' Tessa's, Goodsport's, Meg's, Short Round's and Quint Glimsby's arms outward. The trees that held them began running across the plain in the direction of the 'pull', and all the other trees of the forest followed the human-bearing trees in hot pursuit.

: : - - -

: : Krede and the Order of the Ringwraiths were supposed to meet them in the middle of the plain, yet Nobody, Deirdre and Muppet were the only ones around clearly in sight.  The only other thing they saw was the cloud of dust on the horizon, which was obviously not a good sign.  They stood there, contemplating whether they could outrun whatever army was heading their way.  They peered to their right and discovered another cloud of dust approaching.  The three of them started running in the only direction that was obvious for their survival - from where they came from.  They stopped in their tracks, though, after discovering a third mass on the horizon closing in on their position.  They gawked when they saw that it was an army ofÖ trees!

: : - - -

: : "Chosen, all is ready," Krede told his master, as Mikal placed the final carving knives onto the altar table, "the lava is rising, and we will soon have the three we need!"
: : The Chosen, or Saruman to those who knew him, looked pleased. Once the blood was collected, it would only be a matter of time before the One Ring was found. After 3000 years, Sauron will finally be invincible - no, omnipotent! And there's not a blasted thing that Gandalf or any of his cronies can do to stop it!

: : - - -

: : The trees stopped in their tracks. Held tightly in the trees' branches, Micah and company hastily surveyed their surroundings. Three people were running toward them from up ahead on the plain, and they were followed by an unfamiliar group of horsemen. 
: : Something was wrong, Aragorn knew. It looked all too familiar to him.
: : "Jerico, it's like dÈj++ vu," Aragorn informed his fellow agent, who was held by the tree right next to his, "this is the exact spot that I envisioned in my fainting spells. Just not with all these people."
: : Indiana Jerico shot a confused glance at him. "If no one was there in your vision, then how were you in danger?"
: : Aragorn began to speak again, only to have the ground shake him into silence. The earthquake lasted several seconds, but the rupture high above began to fill the sky with a blood-red hue.
: : "Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Gandalf's distinctive voice beamed in Aragorn's mind, "it is beginning earlier than any of us could have predicted!"
: : Huh? thought Aragorn, Who is this? What's beginning?
: : "Aragorn!" an unfamiliar voice boomed. Aragorn, Jerico and the rest turned their heads to see hundreds of haughty horsemen upon their mighty steeds. A few of the horsemen in the rear of the pack galloped ahead onto the plain, while the horseman at the lead galloped his horse to the base of the tree holding Aragorn.
: : "Most certainly a strange sight to see, the running of trees and such!" boomed the massive warrior-horseman, releasing a deep, hearty laugh. " 'tis the work of Tom Bambadil, I would imagine!"
: : "Aye it is, noble Boromir!" answered the bard from his tree.
: : Boromir gazed at Aragorn and Indiana Jerico, who gazed back down at him. He looked oddly familiar to them, but they couldn't remember why.
: : "Aragorn, noble son of Arathorn. You have returned!"
: : Aragorn shook his head as the trees that held him and Indiana Jerico lowered them gently onto the rolling grass. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't know who youÖ"
: : "And Faramir, my brother!" interrupted Boromir gleefully, sliding off his mount. He took a few steps toward Indiana Jerico and embraced him mightily, lifting the much shorter Jerico off his feet. "Again we unite to save Gondor - and today, Valinor!"
: : Indiana Jerico was losing consciousness in Boromir's powerful hug. "UhhÖ IÖ can'tÖ breatheÖ"
: : The attention of both the horsemen and the tree-riders alike tuned toward the plains. The horsemen who had separated from the group returned, with three other people slung over the horses' backs, hands tied.
: : Letting go of his younger brother, Boromir walked over to the newly arrived horsemen. "And who dost these three be?"
: : Deirdre slid off the horse she was slung over. With her hands and feet tied, she hopped over toward Boromir. "DAMNIT!!! UNTIE ME NOW, OR I'LL SUE!!!"
: : Motioning the tree to lower her down (which it did), Tessa briskly made her toward Deirdre and curled her fist tight.
: : "Sue thisÖ bitch!!!" Tessa punctuated her sentence with a fist to Deirdre's face, sending Deirdre sprawling onto the ground with a cut lip.
: : "Tessa, no more of that!" Michaelson chided, as he and Micah were lowered to the ground. They walked over to view the other two other captured figures, both of which were also tied at the hands and feet.
: : Goodsport walked over to Muppet. "Muppet, why?"
: : Through slitted eyes, Muppet responded. "Why do you think? You think Gandalf would have given me power and riches???"
: : Micah walked up to Nobody. "Looks like someone's going to be doing hard time for a long time!"
: : Nobody snickered. "Not likely, Micah. My lawyers will have me out within an hour of extradition!"
: : Micah turned to Michaelson, who lowered his head in disgust. They both knew that Nobody was right - the justice system in the U.S. heavily favored those with the craftiest lawyers, and Nobody could definitely afford the craftiest of the lot.
: : The flash of light among the trees caught everyone by surprise.

: : - - -

: : The Chosen watched as the lava continued rising.  He stuck his hands into the pockets of his robe, and surprise flooded his senses.  The ring was not there!

: : - - -

: : "Sir Gandalf?!?" a startled Meg called out from high in her tree.
: : Brett grimaced.  "Oh no, not him again!"
: : "Yeah!" agreed Indiana James, "Why does he keep doing that?"
: : Gandalf stepped out into the crowd and faced Indiana Jerico.  With one of his hand in the air, an object flew out of Nobody's pocket and into Gandalf's awaiting hand.
: : Micah glanced at Nobody with a sarcastic grin.  "Pick-pocketing allies, now are we?"
: : "Hey. c'mon!" Quint chortled, his view blocked by some of the other trees, "I can't see!"
: : Gandalf stepped toward Indiana Jerico.  "Young Faramir, it is now time you knew your true past!"
: : The wizard slipped Faramir's Ring on Indiana Jerico's left-hand ring finger, and a surge of light passed over him.  Memories of being raised by the nobles of Gondor, of fighting alongside his older brother Boromir against the Orcs of the plains, and the climactic battle of the end of the Third Age that, until now, brought an end to the troubles of Middle-Earth and the other continents.
: : "I do remember now, Sir Gandalf!" exclaimed Indiana Jerico.  Everyone gawked at Jerico's sudden change in mannerism, Meg most of all.
: : Having the tree gently place her onto the ground, Meg walked over to Jerico.  "What's happened to you, Jerico?"
: : "Aye, Lady Megan.  I remember now who I have always been."
: : The Man with the Hat suddenly felt Aragorn's Sword heat up.  Before he could drop the sword, it flew out of his hand and into Aragorn's.  As with Faramir/Indiana Jerico, the light produced by the sword washed over Aragorn, and long-forgotten memories flooded him as well.  Memories of his being raised by the Elves of the Northern Forest, of his fighting alongside the Elves against the Wyverns, Kobolds, Dark Elves and Orcs, his betrothment to Lady Arwen, and his role in the defeat of SauronÖ or so he had believed until now.
: : "Hey!" The Man with the Hat screamed, "Give me my sword back!"
: : Everyone's heads jerked toward the top of the hill in the distance as the ground shook from the approaching Orcs.

: : - - -

: : Saruman turned to Mikal. "Where is my ring?!?"
: : Bowing in terror, Mikal answered, "I swear, Chosen. I do not have it!"
: : Saruman closed his eyes and concentrated, pointing to both Mikal and Krede. He then opened his eyes, releasing that Mikal had told him the truth, and that Krede did not take it either.
: : Nobody! Saruman realized to himself. No matter - that ring is of no longer any consequence to me. All I need now is the One Ring of Power. And the true Ringwraiths, the Nine Mortal Men Doomed to Die, will retrieve it for me!

: : - - -

: : The horsemen jumped on their horses and armed their weapons. Everyone else who was on the ground had a tree lift each of them into the air. They all braced them themselves for the onrushing Orcs.
: : Screaming with terror, the Orcs rushed around and past the group of humans, horses and trees as if they were not there.
: : "What the heck is going on?" IndyAntilles asked Ben (friend of Indy), who could only answer back with a shrug.
: : Before anyone could react, the reason for the Orcs' fright became apparent - the rivers of substanceless darkness crested the hilltop and rushed their way forward. The rivers shot their way forward, when they suddenly formed into three lines and and shot straight into the group. One of the rivers hit enveloped Short Round, the second engulfed Indiana James, and the third confiscated Brett Lambert. Carrying their three captives within them, the rivers flew into the air and into the far off mountain range.
: : "Shorty!" Micki gasped, tears flooding her cheeks, "Where were they taken to?"
: : Gandalf bowed his head. "To Mount Doom. It has already begun!"
: : Faramir stepped up to the wizard. "Sir Gandalf. Mount Doom is in Mordor, not Valinor!"
: : The wizard leaned forward. "Sauron has somehow transported Mount Doom to Valinor. If Valinor cannot hold out against him, all is lostÖ for this world," the wizard then pointed to Micah, "and for yours!"
: : Aragorn lifted his sword, which glimmered with light despite the blood-red clouds now blocking of the sun. "Onward, noble Stewards of Gondor. We shall defeat Sauron and his bunch for one last time!"
: : The horsemen cheered in triumph as Boromir embraced Aragorn. "Aye, 'tis the Aragorn we know and respect! Come Aragorn. Come Farimir. Help us rid Valinor of the darkness!"
: : "This is weird!" Indy stated as he shook his head. He looked at his hundred-year-old namesake in the next tree, surprised that he was holding up so well. Lauren Jones also looked at her father, with the same concerns.
: : Indy then glanced at Meg, who answered his glance with tearful eyes. He could only imagine what she was going through now, her heart torn between him and Indiana Jerico, who had appeared to become a totally different person.
: : Aragorn mounted an unridden steed. He lifted his sword and screemed, "Onward, to Mount Doom!" With that his horse strode off into the horizon. Boromir, with his newly found brother Faramir to his side on his horse, rode off after Aragorn.
: : Faramir turned toward the horsemen, his fellow Stewards of Gondor, and led them in following Aragorn and Boromir.
: : The trees lifted the remaining people who were still on the ground, including Gandalf and the tied up Nobody, Deirdre and Muppet, along with the unconscious Mack. The trees then followed the horses onward toward Mount Doom.

: : -----

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