The Return of the Ring

[Nariel]

Hi guys, sorry abou the wait... had some login problems. But now I'm back, albeit with a different name... but here's the beginning of this story...

Dr. Kathy Martinez wiped her forehead and took a long sip of bottled water. Days in the San Andreas area were murderously hot. But she and her third year archaeology students had been out here for a week, investigating one of the many extinct volcanoes in the Los Angeles area. This particular one lay directly on the San Andreas Fault line and therefore very fascinating to archaeologists, considering that it had not erupted in about six thousand years, even though the area around it was extremely seismically active. She thought it time to remind her students of this. Picking up her bullhorn, she shouted into it.
"Remember that this area is still active. If you feel any tremors at all, no matter how small, tell me immediately." As if on cue, a large tremor shook the area, knocking her and several students off their feet.
"Dr. Martinez! I think you should look at this!" One of the students called. She recognized her to be Shuina Park. There were two others with her. One was Mara Atkins and the toher, a man about her age, she didn't recognize.
She wiped some of the dust off her clothes and headed in their direction. When she approached, she saw the three students staring intently into the dirt. A small crack had opened, and inside it sat a gold Ring. The Ring was placed on what had to be a finger bone.
"Fascinating," she mused.
"What is it, Doctor?" asked shuina
"There shouldn't be any traces of human activity here buried that deep. The only way anything could be buried there would be if it was thrown into the volcano while it was active. And if that happened, both the ring and the skeleton should have been consumed by the magma."
"Maybe someone buried it here after the volcano died," Mara suggested.
"Improbable. I inspected this area before we came out here to make sure it hadn't already been used. The ground was completely unbroken. And if this skeleton was buried thousands of years ago, it should have decomposed. No, this must have happened when the volcano was active, which is also impossible. But you all know what Sherlock Holmes said. Let's open up the area."
As they dug, it became evident that the skeleton was not human. It was strangely formed, almost like a dwarf, but not quite. Dr. Martinez was overjoyed to find that the skeleton was complete. Except for one thing... Near the skeleton, lay another finger bone. It wasn't like the others and didn't seem to fit anywhere. Odd. And the Ring... that Ring was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Upon the completion of their excavation of the skeleton, Shuina Park paled.
Placing a hand over her mouth, she stepped cautiously away from the area, whispering under her breath. "Sweet Illuvatar," she said.
"What is it?" Asked Dr. Martinez

[Nariel]

"So," Kathy said to her friend Dr. John Jenstad, a man a few years older than she, but with a youthful twinkle in his eye. "One of the students says that the way it was buried, the shape of the skeleton, and the extra finger makes it seem eerily like this trilogy she's read. But doesn't life always remind us of books?"

They both laughed. "Usually it does," said John.

"Although, I have read the trilogy and can't deny it's tempting to look at it that way. There doesn't seem any other explanation."

"Well," said John. "you know what Sherlock Holmes said. 'Remove the improbable and whatever's left, no matter how impossible, must be the truth'. Given how improbable it is that a professor of Anglo-Saxon and write of children's books stumbled upon the truth, for the time being, we have to assume that the skeleton was buried there after the volcano had silenced."

"I agree," said Kathy.

[Beleg Strongbow]

OOC:

Originally posted by Nariel
"Well," said John. "you know what Sherlock Holmes said. 'Remove the improbable and whatever's left, no matter how impossible, must be the truth'

Sorry, but that's backwards... "Remove the impossible and whatever's left, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

[Ms. Undomial]

Nicely done Nariel. Can I join? I think it will be tons of fun!!

[Claenoic]

Shuina was listening to the skeptical observations, then shyly spoke up. "Professors?"

Both turned around, suprised at the student's silent arrival.

Kathy was in maderate shock. "Why... how did you..."

Shuina smiled. "I take hints from the elves."

John recovered slightly," Alright, you're here. Any contributions?"

"First and foremost," Shuina started, getting a little more confident at the fact that both of the educators seemed to be listening for the time being, "The Lord of the Rings Series is NOT only for children. Why, my 7th grade teacher still likes the series. Secondly no one knows where Tolkien received the idea."

John said smoothly, "From his own head, of course. He was certainly brilliant enough for that."

"But then, where did The Silmarillion come from? The Unfinished Tales? By the Valar, where did the elvish language come from?" Shuina argued.

John countered, "Also from his own ideas. Why wouldn't he? He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon, he had enough knowledge to make his own languages."

Kathy cut in. "John and Shuina!"

Shuina giggled at the use of the Professor's first name.

Kathy continued, "We never were against the idea that Tolkien made the trilogy contrived from another source, but we were never for it either. I suggest that we all get some sleep, the hours are flying by. In the meantime, all three of the artifacts are being kept in my office; they will be perfectly safe until tomo-"

Shuina shrieked, "WHAT!!!!"

John rushed over to pacify the panicked student, "She just said that the arti-"

Shuina stamped a foot, not unlike a child half her age. "I KNOW that! But she can't be near it!"

OOC: Good way to finish, I think. I have high hopes for this RPG.

[Finrod Felagund]

An old man entered the room.
"Ah Mr. Emrys" smiled John. "This is Mr. Emrys, he's a generous benefactor of our (University, College?)"
Mr. Emrys nodded and said in a british accent. "If I may say so, I knew professor Tolkien and he himself admitted that he didn't completely write them himself. Meaning he wrote them but he didn't come up with them himself. And..." his brow furrowed in concentration, "Somehow, I feel that not all stories are just stories. And Dr. Martinez, if you would allow me to keep the artifactas in my home, I have an extensive security system and a safe rivalling any of the government's. I do have extensive knowlege of archaeology and I think all here would be put more at ease."
John nodded slowly and Shiuna seemed eager to kep Dr. Martinez from the artifacts.
Dr. Martinez, after a moment, replied...

[Earniel]

OOC: If I'm taking too many liberties, please tell me, okay?

But before Dr. Martinez could reply, one of the students interrupted. "Sorry to interrupt but shouldn't we take photographs first before we remove any of the articfacts?" said Mara timidly. This was her first dig in America and she was still unsure how excavations were handled here.

"No one should touch it!" cut in Shuina.

"I agree." said Mara with a shrug.

Shuina looked surprised, she hadn't expected to convince any one so soon.

"Not without gloves anyway," continued Mara "it's quite an important find. Not the mention nearly the only find. If we touch it with our bare hands, we contaminate it and it'll ruin any chance we have to date it."

Dr. Martinez nodded slowly. "Mara, Shuina get the photo-equipment. We need to photograph before it gets too dark."

Mara nodded and ran off to get the equipment ready. Shuina followed less enthousiastic.

[Claenoic]

A strange feeling rose up in Shuina's gut as she got the tripod. *After all*, she thought *Anyone who touches them immediately get attracted to the Ring, trying to retrieve it until the last of their lives ebb away.* She shivered as she grabbed an extra roll of film. But then a horrifying thought came into her head. *I know if the Ring perished, the foundations of Barad-Dur and Sauron himself would have been completely destroyed, unable to return. And so would the Nazgul. But if the Ring wasn't destroyed...* She gulped. *That means Barad-Dur still exists, and Sauron is still out there. And the Nazgul would stop at nothing...*

[Nariel]

When they got to her office, Dr. Martinez was shocked to find the ring not where she had left it. Shuina immediately paled.
"I don't understand," Kathy said. "I left it right here on my desk."
"Oh no!" Shuina cried. "The Nazgul have got it! It's the end of the world! There's no hope now!"
"Now calm down, "Dr. Jenstad said. "It could just have fallen somewhere."
They all started looking around. Kathy crawled under her desk and shouted, "I found it! Here it is!" She took out her handkerchief and gingerly picked up the Ring, then laid it back on the table.
Shuina relaxed a little. Then they started taking pictures.

[Earniel]

Mara briefly wondered about the carelessness Dr. Martinez just displayed with the ring. Now here you had a very valuable artefact, the most intriguing object on the whole site and it's simply left on a desk in an office. I would have taken better care of it, Mara thought aggrieved. Wow, where did that weird thought come from? Mara shrugged mentally as if to put aside the last thought. Dr. Martinez had a degree in archeology, something Mara herself didn't have just yet. So if any one knew how to handle artefacts, it would be Dr. Martinez. Still... it was odd how the ring had fallen of the desk when there was absolutely no one around.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr Emrys walked into the room and questioned, "Do you have the skeleton as well? I would like to have it and...if there was a finger with it as well, if I coul take them over night to my laboratory..."

[Allorien]

OCC: Can I play the ring? I think it would be cool to show how the ring has a mind of it's own... This is an AWESOME storyline!!!

IC: The ring sat on the desk as the people took pictures of it. It had been found, at last!!! Now it could return to power after so long being forgotten. It was already affecting some of those present, it could feel it. That Doctor would make a useful servant... take it to Sauron....the ring hissed quietly. Mara turned her head sharply to look at it, but she couldn't be sure if she'd really heard it, so she said nothing. The ring felt as though if it had a mouth, it would smile triumphantly. It was great to be back.

OCC: How was that??

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys went up to Shuina and whispered something in her ear, she gave him a strange look and he continued, she smiled and he handed he a binder. Dr. Martinez was suspicious but Shuina opened the binder to reveal a title page "The Fellowship of the Messageboard".
"I found it on the internet," smiled Mr Emrys. "It is a parody of the Lord of the Rings and considering...I thought she would like it. Are you nearly done?"
As the photography finished, Mr. Emrys grew impatient.
"Alright" he said, his voice rising, "If I am not allowed to take the artifacts home, just for one single night tonight, I will be forced to withdraw my monetary support of the University!"
Everyone else was shocked.


(OOC: Hope that FOTMB thing wasn't considered advertising)

[Earniel]

Mara raised an eyebrow. Was this the way things went in american excavations? They let people who were simply moneyshooters of the UCLA take unstudied artefacts to their homes? Her professors back in London would have had a cardiac arrest if they heard such a thing. "Withdraw your support just because you can't take the artefacts home with you? That's pretty..." Mara quickly bit her tongue and swallowed the 'stupid' that was to follow. This wasn't her place to say something and saying things like these could get her kicked out of the excavation. Her cheeks flushed, she quickly wrapped up the photo equipment and with a soft 'excuse me' she nearly fled from the office. As she walked through the corridors she could have sworn that she heard very soft, very faint laughter but since no one else was around, she simply atributed it to her imagination.

[Claenoic]

Shuina blinked. Two very important events at a very rapid pace had happened. First of all, Mr. Emrys (who was very friendly, considering the binder, and patient) had just threatened to withdraw support from the University. Secondly, when Mara rushed down the hall, Shuina thought she heard some extremely faint laughter. Shuina bit her thumbnail worriedly (a bad habit). Could Mr. Emrys be already under the influence of the Ring? And if so, what would the Ring do if he brought it to his house? Put it on? Discover it's writings by fire? Or even worse, take it to the one thing that would mean the end for all... she didn't want to think about that.

She sighed. She would have to think in the valley after class...

[Finrod Felagund]

"Listen," said Mr. Emrys, "I know the stories. I believe, as Professor Tolkien himself believed, that there is more to the stories than even he knew. I am both an Archaeologist, a historian and a Literature expert, as well as very old." he smiled, "I believe my background in all of these areas makes me quite qualified to take the artefacts for one night and my threat still stands. You don't understand how important this could be to myself, the Tolkien Family, the entire world. Christopher needs to hear of this and I would more easily be able to describe it and...I have a hunch. Please allow it, just for a night."

[Allorien]

The ring was shocked at how much that little girl knew of Middle Earth and itself. Th Proffessor must take it home, it must!! Without that, the young ones would keep it too safe. Not safe enough, but still, make it's job harder. Sigh. Sauron has been waiting, waiting all these long years, what a shame to keep him from power any longer. It hissed and it's sized shrunk slightly. No one seemed to notice, but one of the younger girls suddenly shrieked! 'Look at this' she cried. She was shrieking something about how the poloroid pictures showed the ring's changing in size. If the ring had had eyes, it would've rolled them. Stupid amateurs.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys whispered again to Shuina
"I know of the ring's power, I will be careful, the Doctor must not take it with her."

[Claenoic]

Shuina bit her thumbnail harder. It helped to relieve stress. If Mr. Emrys knew what he was doing, the Ring should be safe... right?

Right?

She smiled sadly. If the teacher didn't know what he was doing... and the Nazgul were still there...

"Ok. I trust you."

[Nariel]

Kathy's eyes widened. She couldn't believe this breech of conduct. Let Emrys take the ring home? SHe didn't think so. No. She wouldn't stand for it.
"Absolutely not. Mr. Emrys, If I may remind you, this University is sponsored by the state of California, and does not require your contributions. I will say that the Archaeology department is very grateful to you, however, you may not be allowed to take this artifact home with you."
Dr. Jenstad agreed. "Yes, it must stay here at the school. Never in the history of the University has an artifact this important been taken off the grounds simply for safekeeping. this University has one of the best security systems in the nation."
Emrys started arguing with them, when Mara ans Shuina stepped in. As the group argued, Kathy positioned herself in front of the Ring and leaned on the table behind her. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, she placed her hand over it and closed her fist. Then, not by her will, but by something else, the Ring slipped onto her finger.
The others, who were arguing, didn't notice until Mara looked around. "Hey," she said. "Where's Dr. Martinez?"

[Earniel]

OOC: Actually I had left the office. Never mind. Let's just say I returned after I put the photo equipment away.

"And where is the ring?" Mr. Emrys demanded angrily as he pointed to the place the ring lay just seconds before. Mara looked at the table which indeed was empty now. And dr. Jenstad and Shuina looked just as surprised as Mara was. This was not good. "I - I believe she may have slipped away when we were ... talking." Mara hazarded. "She must have taken the ring to um ... put it away safely." In her head her sense of logic sounded nearly every alarm possible but Mara ignored it. People just didn't disappeare like that. It was physically impossible. And neither did exquisite artifacts. Dr. Martinez probably just had taken the ring to put it in the university safe to end this silly dispute. Any other option was just too ridiculous to think about. Nevertheless, Mara felt sweat trickle down her back. She didn't like this.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr Emrys suddenly flung his arms to his sides and began spinning around. The people in the room ran out of reach but suddenly his arm was jerked back by something. A dull thud was heard and mr. Emrys reached down and searched for a moment and then pulled. In his hand he held the ring and on the floor lay Dr. Martinez, knocked over by Mr. Emrys' arms.

[Allorien]

The ring took the doctor to it's world
hiss, hiss, it said ha ha!!! ah ha ha ha ha. I'm coming back into power, Sauron!!! ha ha ha ha. My Nazgul, come to me.... my evil. Take me to them, doctor... take me there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Claenoic]

OOC: O.o Ok... Allorien, that's the best evil speech I have ever seen :p

Shuina acted without thinking. Seeing one of her professors unconscious, and Mr. Emrys with mad glint in his eye, she attacked and hoped that at least one of her classmates would help....

[Earniel]

Things were happening a little too fast for Mara. One moment Dr. Martinez was there, the next moment she was no longer. Now she was back, lying on the floor. Dr. Jenstad rushed to her side. And then Shuina suddenly attacked Mr. Emrys. Her unsuspected attack caught him unprepared and the both of them fell to the ground, struggling. The ring fell from Mr. Emrys' grasp and hit the floor with a heavy clang right before Mara's feet. Mara's archeology training kicked in and she picked the ring up with her hankerchief before she even realised it. Quickly she chucked it in her pocket, out of harm's way.

Then she grabbed the fire extinguisher that hung on the wall and sprayed the two combatants with the white foam. "Enough!" she cried. "Are you completely insane?! Stop that!" The four foamcovered people on the ground (Dr. Martinez was coming around) looked at her in surprise but at least Shuina and Mr. Emrys had stopped fighting. Mara realised she had just sprayed two professors and the benefactor of the museum and Dr. Martinez' office with extinguisherfoam. She felt her face become red. "Oh. Er...oops. Um. Sorry."

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys was furious and gave a forced smile. "Shuina, could I see you privately in the hall for a moment? NOW!?"
They walked outside the office and Mr. Emrys glared at her, face bright crimson.
"Girl! I just saved the ring from being stolen! SHE PUT IT ON! Doesn't that tell you something? Now you may have caused permanent damage to your own position and mine. You realize now they may never let the ring leave the University and that Dr. Martinez will probably herself keep it. Because of you, we may be doomed. Now, you can redeem yourself. Go in there and demand that the ring be put in the university safe under guard. I will speak with the board of directors on further action about protecting it. For now, just be sure no one puts it on. I must go home, I will return this evening to see that the ring is in the safe!"

Mr. Emrys stormed off, srtaightening his tie and brushing off his ruined jacket.

[Finrod Felagund]

.

[Earniel]

Mara remained inside the office as Shuina and mr. Emrys went outside, even so she could hear every word of it. Dr. Martinez and dr. Jenstad were searching through the white foam on the floor for the ring. Mara realised they hadn't seen her put it in her pocket. She pondered on whether she should say so or not.

At that moment Shuina entered again, her face a bit flushed from the shouting at she'd just been giving. Mara gave her an sympathetic smile. At least she wasn't the only one feeling slightly miserable. The ring now seemed to burn in Mara's pocket. Suddenly she came to a decision. "Come." she said softly to Shuina and pulled her fellow student with her outside.

After a quick look around her she lowered her voice even further and whispered barely audible: "We have to destroy it."

[Nariel]

Kathy was scouring the floor for the Ring when she heard a loud whisper. Commmme toooo meeeeee.... You will lead me to himmmmm.
"Did you hear anything?" she asked Dr. Jenstad.
"Nope."
Kathariiiiinnnnaaaaa
"John? Are you sure you didn't hear anything?"
"Nope. You're not going senile on me, are you?"
Commmme toooo meeeeee...
"John. I swear I hear something.."
I Willll Fiiiiinnnnnd Yoooouuuu.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys stomped out to his car, "I must destroy the ring but I can't do it alone. Mara and Shuina must help me. But there's something else, nagging at me and I can't remember what."

[zavron]

ooc: can i be the evil lord of the nazgul thats awoken at the rings call and has come to the university in the disguise of an archaeologist who knows alot on myth's and legends through the times.

''ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssskaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! !''

Mr. Emrys turned around ''what was that?'' he turned back around and bumped into a sinister looking man in a blacky browny tweed jacket and black pants with a bow-tie.

''Hello...my name.....'' he stopped and smiled ''...is Mr. McCuden I'm an archaeologist, that works for the british institute of mythical artifacts from london.'' he offered a hand to Mr. Emrys, he took it, the hand was cold and slimy he had an oily nature around him and something about that smile brought a shiver down Mr. Emrys's spine.
''I'm looking for the lab at this university.....iwas wondering...if you could show me there.'' he resumed with an insincire look.

''errrrrr...yes sure, its this..way'' Mr. Emrys frowned why was this strange person here, he thought, and what did he wan't,n whatever it was it made Mr. Emrys uneasy,and he didn't like it one bit.

[Finrod Felagund]

Suddenly a thought entered Mr. Emrys head. For some reason, he felt that he must not help McCuden.
"I'm sorry Mr. McCuden but I must leave." He lowered his voice, "If you try anything stupid, I will be there in moments. i promise you that."
Mr Emrys turned and as he went to walk away, nonchalantly tripped Mr. McCuden. And then went into the faculty building to speak with one of his own close friends.

Mr. Emrys was very confused, he did not understand why he had been that way to McCuden but shrugged and went on. He had to protect the ring until he could destroy it. But...
There in the hall were Mara and Shuina.
"Girls" he called. They turned.
"Please listen. I know that IT...must be destroyed. But I don't know where or how. The place where it was found is opbviously where it was forged and supposedly destroyed so where now?"
The girls looked shocked, they had just been talking about destroying the ring.
"One more thing" Mr. Emrys whispered. "A strange man just entered the college. He...seems suspicious. He is going by the name McCuden. Watch out I fear him but I don't know why."
Then he leaft as suddenly as he had appeared.

[zavron]

''hello again Mr. Emrys!'' as mr.emrys turned to go Mr.McCudden was there staring right into his eyes.

puny human!! I will project my thoughts to find where the ring is! You Human Take me to the ring!!

[Earniel]

"Now that was a great help." muttered Shuina when mr. Emrys dissapeared again all of a sudden. Mara didn't answer, she shivered although it wasn't cold in the hall. She wished she could just put the ring in the university's safe but something told her it was too late for that now.

"This mister McCuden...." Shuina began. "I don't really want to meet him." interrupted Mara. " Me neither." agreed Shuina. "Should we talk to dr. Martinez?" Mara hesitated "I don't know... It has influence over her. We saw that. She put it on just a while ago in her office. I don't think letting it near her is such a good idea. In fact I don't know what would be a good idea. It's not every day you end up with an evil trinket! What shall we do?"

[zavron]

''Hello!! you two!! could you please direct me to dr.....Dr. Jensted,''

Mr. McCudden's eyes travelled to one of the girls pockets.

''ASH NAZG DUBARTULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, ASH NAZG THRAKATULUK AGH BURZUM--ISHI KRIMPATUL...ash nazg, ash nazg......''

[Nariel]

Kathy shook the sound out of her head. "Maybe one of the girls took it."
"What? Oh, the Ring. Yeah. Let's go find them"
They both suddenly shivered. One of the girls screamed. "Let's go!" Kathy shouted and ran off in the direction of the scream.
Both the girls were on the floor and above them stood a ?man? holding the Ring. Kathy swore under her breath. " That's belongs to me," she said.
"No, milady. It belongs to my MMMAAASSSSSTERRRR."
"And who might that be?"
The man opened his mouth, but a gunshot cut him off. He fell to the ground and disintegrated in front of her. Behind him stood Dr. Jenstad witha gun in his hand. Kathy grabbed the Ring and ran off. "Noo!" mara shouted, chasing after her.
"I've got to destroy... It's mine! I must give it too... No! Mine! Mine! Destroy!!!!!!!!" Kathy's mind overloaded with differeing thought. Her rational mind told her to destroy it. Her heart told her to keep it. But some other force told her she must journey to return it to its owner. What should she do? When the girls caught up with her, she was standing in the hall, staring at the RIng in her open hand.

[Earniel]

The gunshot was still ringing in Mara's ears as she and Shuina caught up with dr. Martinez. Dr. Martinez was standing motionless in the middle of the hall, her eyes fixed on the Ring in her hand. Mara extended her hand to take the ring from her but Shuina stopped her.

Dr. Martinez didn't even reacted to their presence, nor to Mara's hand, still hovering near the Ring. With difficulty Mara withdrew her hand. She hadn't touched the Ring with her bare hands yet and she knew deep down that she better didn't. Yet somehow Mara longed to touch it, to stroke it's perfect smooth surface, to hold it, to keep it safe. She shuddered as she realised she was feeling the influence of the Ring. "Dr. Martinez?" she asked. "Are you alright?" In the meantime dr. Jenstad caught up with them as well. "Kathy?"

[zavron]

''no mortal weapon could defeat me!!!!!I must call upon my bretheren!!!

''ASH NAZG DUBARTULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, ASH NAZG THRAKATULUK AGH BURZUM-ISHI KRIMPATUL. ASH NAZG DUBARTULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, ASH NAZG THRAKATULUK AGH BURZUM-ISHI KRIMPATUL.ASH NAZG DUBARTULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, ASH NAZG THRAKATULUK AGH BURZUM-ISHI KRIMPATUL. !!!!!''

'' KHHAAAAAAA!!!!!KHAAA!!KHAA!!SSSSSSSSSSS!!!!''

''the nazgul shall ride again!!!!!!!!''

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys had run when Mcudden had appeared, but the sound of a gunshot brought him right back in.
He came to the hall where the two students and two professors stood. When Shuina and Mara explained what had happened, Mr. Emrys was very upset.
"HE DISINTEGRATED?!?!?! This is no human, we've got a problem girls. I ... I ... I must take..." He reached out and grabbed the ring before anyone could say anything. The girls screamed as there was a flash of light and Mr. Emrys was on the floor, the ring in his hand. He was writhing in pain and thrust the ring into his pocket.
"Girls, please follow me to my car, you shall join me for dinner. Dr. Jenstad, I suggest that Dr. Martinez be taken home for a long nap and...as for Mr. Mcudden, he should be mentioned to no one. Or the ring. Girls, here's my keys, it's the red porsche convertible. I'll be right there, I just want to get the skeleton. Thank you Doctor."
Then, fist still clenched in pain, he went to retrieve the skeleton.

[zavron]

Mr. Emrys walked in the room to find the skeleton broken and in pieces on the floor!

[Finrod Felagund]

"DAMN!" Emrys cursed. And then found a broom and swept the shattered skeleton into a bag which he carried out towards the parking lot where the girls waited in his car.

[Claenoic]

OOC: Me back *sigh* SORRY, it took me so long to get time!

Shuina bit her right thumbnail. It wasn't helping, so she switched to her left thumbnail.

Mara looked on in slight disgust.

Shuina felt Mara's eyes on her protruding thumb, stopped chewing and smiled apologetically. "Nasty habit. I should really get a worry stone, saves on tear on my nails..."

Mara relaxed and sighed. She looked out at the University's doors, wondering when Mr. Emrys would come out. She touched the Ring, as if reasuring herself that it was still there.

Shuina eyed the hand slipping into Mara's pocket. "I wouldn't touch it as much if I were you, though it's hard to resist."

Mara, who was in a half trance, revived and smiled instinctively. "It IS very hard to."

Shuina sighed. "Too bad you can't let it go, not now anyway."

Mara looked at her Asian classmate curiously. "Why is that?"

Shuina smiled grimly. "Try giving it to me. Go on, try."

Mara hesitated.

"Or if you like, just drop it. Right on the floor. I promise, I won't take it." Shuina was totally sincere.

Mara took the Ring out of her pocket...

OOC: Someone end this.

[Earniel]

OOC: Very glad you're back Claenoic! But I think Finrod took the ring earlier. Oh well....let's pretend he gave it to us when he told us to wait at his car. :rolleyes:


Mara looked at the Ring in her hand. Slowly she tried to tilt her hand but found she was unable. "Your hand is shaking." said Shuina.
"I know." said Mara with gritted theeth. "Dammit! I will not be beaten by a stupid piece of metal!" With that she abruptly flung out her hand. With the sudden move the Ring flew from her hand and hit the ground a few paces further off. Quickly Mara set her foot on it so it wouldn't roll away. She was breathing heavily.

"Whoa, easy girl!" said Shuina, surprised by Mara's vicious outburst.
"Sorry." mumbled Mara. She sighed. "I want to go home." she said suddenly.
"But what about Mr. Emrys? He told us to wait here."
"So what?" asked Mara "The guy shows up and decides that we should have dinner with him. I just lost my appetite...." She turned to walk away.
"What about the Ring?" asked Shuina, again biting her nails. "You've put it in your pocket again."
Mara looked surprised. "I did? No, it's still on the ....." she looked down where the Ring should have been lying, it wasn't there. Instead she felt the same old weigth again in her pocket. "...ground." she finished. "Oh god, I don't even remember picking it up!"

[Claenoic]

Shuina laughed mirthlessly. "See? Reflex. No way to stop it. Grats, you're a Ringbearer. Though I don't see how that deserves congratulations."

Mara only half understood. "I'm a what and why is that so bad?"

Shuina did an odd half smile. "You're carrying the Ring. You'll hold it for the rest of your life, never wanting to let it go. You'll never abandon it. If it wishes, it will abandon you. The only creature who was able to let go of it - permanently, mind - was a hobbit called Bilbo Baggins. Even then, he had the help of an Istari, a wizard, if you will."

Mara was lost at the words "abandon you". "Abandon me? Impossible. It's an inanimate object. It doesn't have a will."

Shuina grimaced. "That's what you think. Don't you remember how hard it was to let it go? The strain on your hand?"

Mara opened her mouth to answer, but-

A multitude of piercing shrieks tore through the air.

Shuina turned white. "Oh, Great Eru, Sweet Elbereth..."

Mara was shocked and puzzled. "What is it? What's going on?"

Her newly found friend was pulling frantically at Mara's arm. "C'mon, we need to move! Come on!!!" Shuina was on the verge of tears.

Mara complied, but she was still confused. "What is happening???"

Shuina gulped. "Nazgul. Ringwraiths. They're here for the Ring."

[Earniel]

"Ring? What ring? This ring?" Mara asked confused.

"Do you happen to have any other magical rings with you? Come on!" Shuina was pulling Mara back to the lighted university building. Another shriek rose in the nightsky sending shivers down the spines of the girls. Simultanously they turned around and ran back to the university building.

"Wait! The car! We still got the car keys!" Mara said suddenly.

"Too late for that now! Didn't you hear that last shriek? They're too close!"

Once inside they slammed the door behind them.

"What do we do now?

"We should find some weapons. Too bad there is no phial of Galadriel or a good Westernisse-sword in the real world."

"What are you talking about, Shuina?"

"You can't beat ringwraiths with normal weapons. They are not human, they're not even alive. But they home in on the ring and um... tend to kill the bearer of it."

"Bloody marvelous. I suppose just giving them the ring is out of the question, right?"

"Definately." said Shuina. "Come, we have to find the others. With luck, the ringwraiths won't attack if we're in larger numbers."

[Silverstripe]

ooc: May I join you? I'd like to be a human student.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys came to the doors just as Shuina and Mara burst in.
"What the..." Mr Emrys shouted.
Mara gasped out, "The Nazgul...wraiths...for the ring"
Mr. Emrys' eyes went wide.
"Quickly to the car!"
Shuina protested, "That's where we just were!"
Quickly!" Yelled Emrys, grabbing the girls by the arms. They all ran out to the parking lot as a number of shadowy figures appeared.
Mr. Emrys looked at Mara, "DRIVE!"
She got in the drivers seat and Shuina got in the passenger side. Mr. Emrys climbed into the back seat.
"Turn on the auto map!" he shouted, "It's the green button and will list directions home."
Then Mr. Emrys pulled back the roof.
Shuina and Mara were horrified.
"NO!" they yelled together.
Mr Emry's hair was shining and he shouted as his hair and clothes billowed around him.
Suddenly as mara drove and the Nazgul followed, a bright flash came from Mr. Emrys hands and the Nazgul disappeared.
Shuina gasped, "Who are you?"
Mr. Emrys slowly sank into his seat, "I don't know," he trembled, "I don't know. The Nazgul are simply disoriented and they'll be back."

[zavron]

the ring I must bring the ring to my master!!!

''KAAAAA!!! A wizard!!! Come My Nazgul!''

I had not foreseen this!


With that the nazgul split up and a dark shadow followed the car floating not far behind.

[Claenoic]

Shuina sank back into her seat, shivering. "How, in the name of Vana Ever-young, did you do that? It's not possible, unless you were an Istari or something..."she giggled nervously at the incredulosity of that notion, until...

She turned to Mr. Emrys. "Unless... are you?"

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys sighed "I'm no Istari, although I believe I may have a few drops of Maiar blood in my veins." Then he looked suprised. "I'm remembering, something about a king and something about a red dragon fighting a white dragon, and...I am descended from elves of Middle Earth and from a place called Marlin but that's all I remember, I am half elf. But, something else, something about Britain is nagging at me."

Then the car's system said "Turn left at the next driveway"
Mara turned in. There was a gate and Mr Emrys yelled out, "Elbereth", the gate swung open. "Voice recognition, " smiled Mr. Emrys at the shocked girls, "not magic, technology."
Then they drove through to see a huge mansion. The girls were impressed. "Come in, we need to talk" said Mr. Emrys.

[Earniel]

"Yes," said Mara slowly "I think we do. Because right now, I'd like to get some straight answers. I've been knocked to the ground, chased by creepy guys with a gothic statement and stuck with an evil trinket that's messing with my head. Furthermore I think I can forget about participating in an excavation on American soil ever again because we did just happen to steal a rare artifact. So you'll understand I'm not really in a good mood today. So I want to know right now: Who are you and what do you want?"

OOC: Welcome Silverstripe, I guess you can join unless Nariel objects. Try and post your character on the "LOTR 2002" thread. It's the discussion thread of this RPG.

[Claenoic]

Shuina's head was still reeling from meeting a part Maiar, part Elf. And she understood his reference to Britain, but she wasn't talking until they got inside.

[Nariel]

Dr. Emrys, Mara, and Shuina entered his house, only to find Dr. Martinez and Dr. Jenstad sitting on his sofa. "How on earth did you get in?" he asked.
"Your window was unlocked." said Dr. Jenstad.
"We have to destroy the Ring," said Dr. Martinez
"Don't we all know that," Mara said. "But how?"
"I have a fffffriend who woooorks for NASSSSSSSA," she said, starting to shake. "I..... I.... I'llll b.. b.. b.. bet he'lllll hhhhhelllp ussssss." Having barely gotten the snetence out of her mouth, she collapsed, writing on the floor, and slowly making her was towards the girls. "I nnnnnneeeeeeeeeed ittttt. It'sssssss mmmmmiiiiiiinnnnne." After a bit of a scuffle, Dr. Emrys and Dr. Jenstad got her back on the sofa and held her down.
"But what are we supposed to do?" Dr. Emrys asked. "Fly it into the sun?"
Still shivering, Kathy looked up through a mop of her hair hanging over her face. "Exactly"

OOC: Silver, feel free to enter!

[Earniel]

Mara took a seat in the corner, as far from dr. Martinez as she could. She didn't really blame her professor for the influence the ring clearly held over her but... It scared Mara and she didn't want to take the ring too close to dr. Martinez. Is this how I will react once I lose the ring? she wondered disturbed. "Fly it into the sun...." she turned to Shuina, "You're the expert LOTR here. Do you think it could work?"

[zavron]

I came upon a house and the ring called out.

''this is where the ring is, I call upon my nazgul.''

[I]''kkkkkkkkkkkkkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssss sssssaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhkkk kkkkkaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssssssssssssss''

the shadow passed towards a window in the house slipping past the bars and slipped in through a crack in the window.

''ASH NAZG DRAKATULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, AH NAZG THRAKATULUK, AGH BURZUM-ISHI CRIMPATUL. ASH NAZG DRAKATULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, AH NAZG THRAKATULUK, AGH BURZUM-ISHI CRIMPATUL. ASH NAZG DRAKATULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, AH NAZG THRAKATULUK, AGH BURZUM-ISHI CRIMPATUL. ASH NAZG DRAKATULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, AH NAZG THRAKATULUK, AGH BURZUM-ISHI CRIMPATUL.

the ring dropped out of the pocket of one of the girls sat at the table and bounced along the floor. An Armoured spiked foot emerged and stood on it. There the lord of the Nazgul arose and withdrew his sword, The witch king blade.

''I have it...........MY MAAASSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEERRR!!!! I HAVE IT!!!! KAAAAAAAAA!!!''

[Claenoic]

Mara spun around and saw the Witch King. She screamed, and the others turned around.

Before Shuina could add her shrieking to Mara's, Mr. Emrys had sent another white flash in the Witch King's direction. It wasn't a direct hit, but it still left the King a little dazed and confused.

This was enough time for Shuina, who had regained her senses, to run to the fireplace and get a piece of wood ablaze with fire. Rushing back to the couch, she jammed the flaming wood into the space where the King's head should have been.

The Witch King screamed and dropped the Ring, went to his little crack, and disappeared.

Mr. Emrys quickly picked The Ring up and handed it to Mara, who put it back in her pocket almost by instinct.

Shuina shakily brushed off her hands and smiled weakly at the astonished audience. "They don't like fire at all."

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys was dazed. "I don't think the sun would work but, it might. Yet, if it didn't, I think the Nazgul would have no trouble going into space, send a Balrog maybe. They wouldn't mind the fire."

[Claenoic]

Shuina sat down on the couch, tactfully between Mara and Dr. Martinez. "But, why not? Orodruin WAS supposedly the hottest volcano on Earth, but that doesn't mean it was more hot than the sun. Personally, I think it's a fifty-fifty chance. And I believe balrogs CAN be defeated by fire. Gandalf mentioned something about the flames of Anor - The Sun. I need to get my books from home, unless - oh!" She swayed and leaned on the arm of the couch. "Sorry, I feel a bit faint."

[Earniel]

Mara helped Shuina to sit down again. "Are you alright, Shuina? You look pale! Can anyone get her something to drink maybe?" Mr. Emrys nodded and went to the kitchen. Mara looked with some concern at her friend who was indeed becoming very pale. Is it the aftershock from torching that ringwraight? Mara wondered. Surely that couldn't have affected her that bad.

[Nariel]

"Aww crap," said Kathy.
"What?" they all asked simultaneously.
"Can't you tell? She's obviously been stabbed by one of those.... uh... whaddayacallem... Blades of Mordor. She needs Elvish medicine."
They looked at her in astonishement.
"you've read the Lord of the Rings?" asked Mara.
"Of course I have. High school required reading."
"Why didn't you say so?"
"Nobody asked. You know, come to think of it, the U.S. isn't just going to let us borrow a shuttle to throw into the sun. So unless one of you has a space shuttle in you back yard, I would suggest we try my friend Alexei Postrovic in Moscow. He might help."
"You think the russians will let us fly one of their shuttles into the sun?"
"No, but we'd have a better chance at stealing it."
Shuina paled. "Stealing?"
"Yes. Stealing. You don't think we're just going to walk into Russian Military Headquarters and ask to borrow a shuttle, do you?"
"I guess not."
"Great. Now if Merlin here would kindly attend to Mara, I'll call Alexei."
Dr. Emrys looked at her. "How'd you know?"
She smiled. "Know what?"

[Claenoic]

Mr. Emrys blinked, drink intended for Shuina in hand. "That I have Maiar blood?"

Kathy (OOC: What should the students call her? Dr. Martinez?) shrugged. "I don't know. You just seem like Gandalf or somethin'."

Shuina, paler than a ghost, weakly lifted up a hand. "Um... hello? Can I state an opinion about my condition?"

Dr. Jenstad nodded.

Shuina continued. "There's a black shadow over my eyes. Not good. But I don't feel cold, just kinda tired. And it's only the arm that carried the wood - the right- that's numb. So therefore, I can't've been stabbed by a Morgul blade. It's probably the Black Breath, which is, in some ways, worse."

Mara asked, "And... how?"

Shuina said in a low tone. "When you have been stabbed by the Morgul blade, you slowly become like one of those wraiths, stuck in the Shadows beneath the Great Eye, all day, all night."

Kathy nodded, verifying Shuina's words.

Dr. Jenstad commented, "I don't know what's worse than that..."

Shuina turned her head towards Dr. Martinez. "Do you remember the part when Merry and Eowyn defeated the Witch King? Or maybe, so it seemed?"

Kathy nodded again.

Shuina continued. "They fell unconscious, wandering through nightmares endlessly, until they almost died in their sleep. At least, that's how I think it worked. But there was a handy Long-Lost King around, with some handy Athelas. Now, as you can see, there are no more Athelas, and no more King. And-" She broke off, shivered convulsively, and continued. "I don't want to die."

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys eyes, which had been dull, suddenly lit up. "We need to get to Britain. I've just remembered something from the back of my memory."
"What?" asked Dr. Martinez.
Mr. Emrys smirked, "Avalon"

The group rushed to the airport and got into Mr. Emrys private jet where he sat next to Mara.
"Listen, I do know that the sun is much hotter than Orodruin, by I think a great aspect of the fact that the ring could only be destroyed there, is that it was created there. I thuink we shall meet someone who can help us in Britain. I don't know why but, memories are coming back to me, memories that I really don't think I should have. Memories of an ancient time. My first name is Myrddin, which translated is Merlin. And my memories are of Arthurian days. I am as confused as you but...do you think that perhaps..."
He trailed off.

[Earniel]

"I see." said Mara. Yet she couldn't manage to make her voice sound convinced. Not that she even noticed it, too much had happened the last day that Mara didn't understand and she hated not understanding something. Besides that she had begun to feel a dull pressure on her brain ever since they had left Mr. Emrys' house. She was sure it was that "little golden bastard" as she had started calling the ring by herself.

She tried to concentrate again on what Mr. Emrys was saying. Lord of the rings, King Arthur, Merlin,.... It was all stuff she had read once but now it all seemed so hazy. Why? She used to have a good memory for books.

You can end this.... a part of her said. The ring has no power over you. You know it, you're stronger than a mere hobbit. You can use it, Mara. Put it on. Put it on! Mara closed her eyes. "Shut up." she said. Mr. Emrys besides her looked up surpised. "What?" he asked. "Um, sorry. Not you." said Mara quickly.

OOC: I actually liked the idea of stealing a shuttle and shooting it into the sun.

[Claenoic]

Shuina was pacing from the cockpit to the tail, to partly try to keep herself warm, partly keep herself sane, partly to keep herself awake. She was about to leave the cockpit, when the words "King Arthur" and "Avalon" popped out at what was left of her sanity.

She stopped her tortuous walk, and started the lengthy chore of partially throwing off the shadow that covered her eyes. It took longer than usual. That worried the concious part of her mind.

"Avalon? Isn't that the place where King Arthur went to rest until he was ready to come back to England?" she barely heard herself say. Then she fell back into a half stupor.

[Finrod Felagund]

"Yes", said Mr. Emrys, "but there's more to it than that. It's an elven colony. Or was an elf colony, one of the last. And only the elves can help us now. If we can even get to Avalon, we strill don't know if the elves are still there."

[Finrod Felagund]

"I just wish everything made more sense" said Emrys.

[AudrentheRanger]

ooc: introducing... Charles Quincy Winters & Jenna Walker!!

ic:The plane landed in a London(ooc:that right?) airport. It was rainy and cloudy and cold. Two figures were waiting for them.
"Hello, Mr. Emrys," one said,"my name's Charles, this is my cousin Jenna."

[Claenoic]

OOC: Welcome, Audren! :D Mayhap it would've been wiser for you to say summat at our discussion thread, LOTR 2000, but never mind. You're here now.

Shuina blinked, shivered, and looked in Jenna's direction. "Who.. they?" She was getting very cold...

[zavron]

ooc: can I ask if any of you have ever been to britain and by the by there aint no avalon around no more people say it drifted off long agoalthough there si the thing that it is glastonbury (sp). I say I'll take another role how about a tourguide that helps you through britain that ends up being an Istari. My name can be David McCartney.

I waited at the london airport standing out in the rain waiting for the plane from america with my new tourists. For two weeks i have been told to take them around the best places in Britain.

''Bloody weather!!'' I blew my nose ''I hate colds!! AACCCHHOO!!! ergh! I need a holiday''

soon a plane came into view and came closer and closer and touche down. The speaker overhead declared the name and cargo of the plane. And slowly but surely the passengers got off the plane, taking there first look at good old England.

I lifted up my card, it had Mr.Emyrs writen on it in big black letters. My new tourists, walked over to two other people and then spotted the sign and they all headed over. I smiled and gave my usual introduction.

''Hello I will be your tour guide around Britain for the whole of your stay! My name is David McCartney, Our first stop is at a restroom and ten we will be on our way. If you will all like to follow me I'll take you to the tour bus.''

I turned and led them to my Transit Mini-Bus.'' If you will all like to step on board we will be on our way''

We stopped at the restroom nad I told them what we will be doing for today.

''First we are going down through Devon and into cornwall where we will be staying at Tintagel, The believed Birth place of King Arthur himself, the first King, with his legendry sword excalibur. While we are there we will be visiting the Castle ruins and Merlins caves.''

Mr. Emyrs put up his hand. ''Will we be going to Avalon!!''
I snorted with laughter, although he didn't seem to find it funny. ''What?''

''There is no such thing as Avalon any more It was lost thousands of years ago, It supposedly drifted ou to sea. Or there is a possibility that it is still here, Avalon was an island, it was connected to britain but it was surrounded by water, It wasn't very big, and after It went missing scientists believe that the sea levelwent down and the land raised out of the water and britain was extended about a Mile. We now believe that when people came to look for avalon they couldn't find it because the land had changed and avalon was no more than just a hill. People came in and built a city around it. that city is called Glastonbury. There is a lot of evidence that proves that it's avalon, but there are still some shady parts around the story. It's time we left for Cornwall it's a two hour drive there from here and the traffics herendous this time of year.''

[Silverstripe]

ooc: Zavron! That post made me sneeze!

ic: Jenna smiled as she and Charles boarded the bus, still amused by the shocked look on Mr. Emrys's face as Charles greeted him by name. Her cousin did that with everyone; if he knew your name, he'd greet you like an old friend the moment he met you.

Jenna looked at their tour guide, David McCartney, trying hard to focus on what he was saying. After all, she wanted to learn all she could about England; she'd be living here for a while, with her cousin's family, who had just moved here.

Jenna could have stayed behind in America, at college, but the family had raised her since she was very small, and she wanted to stay with them. Anyway, being in England gave her an excuse not to visit her birth mother, the woman that had left her in the care of her aunt and uncle shortly after she was born.

And then she waltzes in and expects me to just welcome her back into my life, after eighteen years?! thought Jenna angrily. Her mother had shown up about a year ago, acting as if she'd never abandoned her daughter, like everything should be perfectly normal between them.


When she heard one of the tourists (Mr. Emrys) ask about Avalon, she grinned at Charles. Well, that was one man with an active imagination!

[Silverstripe]

Then Jenna saw Emrys's expression, and a cold chill ran down her spine. That man was serious, dead serious. Yet he seemed sane enough. She looked around at the people he was with; all of them had the same look of fear and a certain amount of desperation. Why? Were they all criminals, running from the law? Or did they need help? What was it about them?!

Jenna's curiousity got the better of her, and she decided to talk to the others. Leaning across the aisle, mentally apologizing to her tour guide for being rude, she whispered, "Hello, I'm Jenna Walker, I just moved here, and I'm really interested in the Arthurian legends. Like Avalon. How about you?"

That Emrys! Why did he seem so familiar?

[Earniel]

Mara tapped with her fingers on the side of her seat impatiently. Didn't they have other matters to settle than making tours in Brittain? She was born here for crying out loud! It was not as she didn't know Brittain... and then there were the ringwraiths on their trail.... Mara shivered.

Then suddenly the girl they had met at the airport leaned over and said her name was Jenna. "I'm Mara Atkins" Mara introduced herself. "I was born here so I know a thing or two about Arthur and his Round Table." "And I don't really have time to go through another tour again." she muttered softly enough for no one else to hear.

[zavron]

David: ''And on your right now you will see Dartmoor, Wher The famous fictional carachter, Sherlock Holmes That is!, Battled the Hound Of The Baskervilles!! And just over that hill now, you will see Dartmoor Prison!! Famous for its iscolation from the rest of the world, Many of the prisoners there go mad because of it!!''

They were Driving through Devon at this time, And cornwall was just about an Hour away.

I walked down the bus to Mr.Emrys.

''Are you interested in the arthurian tales, Mr.Emrys?'' I asked

[Silverstripe]

Charles tapped Jenna on the shoulder.

"What did our tour guide mean, there's no Avalon anymore?" he whispered, laughing a little, "we've been there!"

Jenna smiled. "Oh, I doubt he means our Avalon!" Of course no one here was going to be asking about some place in California.

She turned back to the other group of tourists.
"Well, I hope you have fun. Are you all from Britain?" asked Jenna. "I lived in Los Angeles before this."

[Finrod Felagund]

OOC: Just so you know, the plane was my private jet

IC: Mr. Emrys was annoyed, "We don't need a tour guide, and please mention Avalon aloud. Welcome Jenna and Charles, I hope you will join us, I think Shuina can explain on the bus Mara, hold on, you'll be ok."

[Silverstripe]

Jenna was very confused by Mr. Emrys's statement.

"Join us?" We're already on the tour together.

But it was more than "the tour," she knew that. And he'd told one of the girls around her age to 'hold on.' Was the one girl injured? One of them did look very weak, but more ill than injured.

Evil is near them, but not yet among them.

Okay, now where had THAT thought come from?! This day seemed to be turning into something out of one of her fantasy books!

"You are on a great ... errand," said Jenna, choosing her words carefully. That, at least, had to be true.

[AudrentheRanger]

ooc: I posted in LOTR 2002.

ic:

Charles was thinking. Jenna glanced at him. He was staring at nothing lost in thought. Jenna knew he had taken anthropology once. She didn't know what that had to do with Britain though.

Suddenly, Charles snapped back to life.
"Avalon! Glastonbury! Arthurian Legend! Emrys!"
Everyone looked at him, waiting for an explanation. He suddenly blushed, embarrassed at his outburst.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys was impressed. Looking at Jenna he said "Yes, fantasy books indeed. Tolkien to be precise." Jenna was shocked, had he read her thoughts.
"Charles," said Mr. Emrys, "yes, you are on the right track, the words missing from your list were Tolkien, Ring, Elves and Marlin."

Shuina looked at Mr. Emrys strangely, "What is this Marlin?"
Mr. Emrys looked at her, "I'll explain when we get a chance to be alone, our group that is: Myself, Mara, you, the two professors and Jenna and Charles, if they accept."

[zavron]

''Wait, wat do you mean you don't need a tour Guide!! It was you that booked It!!''

A look of astonishment spread across Mr.Emrys face.

''I assure you Mr.McCartney, I never booked a tour guide.''

[AudrentheRanger]

"Then who did?" Charles asked. He was thinking clearly now. His brain had been very muddled.

[AudrentheRanger]

ooc: isn't Marlin spelled Merlin?

[Earniel]

Mara looked up. "What do you mean you didn't book this trip?" Then who knew? Who knew that they were coming here? A sudden wave of claustrophobia hit her. "Stop this bus!" she yelled. "I want out! NOW!" The driver obeyed if somewhat puzzled. As soon as the bus halted Mara opened the door and jumped out. She half ran a few paces away from the bus before she stopped. She drew a few deep breaths before she felt even remotely better. She had never felt claustrophobic before, why now? "This is your doing, isn't it?" she hissed softly. But the ring in her pocket didn't reply.

[Silverstripe]

"Tolkien," muttered Jenna, "Ring. The Lord of the Rings. And elves...you -- or WE need to find elves. Why?"

Jenna had read The Lord of the Rings multiple times, at her mother's insistence, and had loved the books, although she admitted this only to herself. She always pretended not to like anything having to do with her birth mother, Deborah Walker. Not that Deborah Walker had had all that much to do with her daughter. She'd never even told Jenna who her father was, or anything about him, save a first name Jenna had always thought was fictitious anyway: Sylvan.

But if The Lord of the Rings was a true story, there was now a very real possibility that Jenna had never before considered.

While Jenna was still trying to figure things out, the girl who had first introduced herself started yelling at the driver to stop the bus. Jenna looked at Charles, and together, the two ran after Mara, followed closely by the rest of the group.

[AudrentheRanger]

Suddenly, Charles stumbled.

As he caught himself, Jenna saw the look on his face.

"Jenna, do you remember what your mother said about your father?" he asked her.

"Yes,"Jenna replied.

"Did your mom say anything about Elves?"

[Silverstripe]

Jenna nodded.

"Every conversation I ever had with her seemed to be about The Lord of the Rings, so of course she mentioned elves." Not that Jenna had had all that many conversations with Deborah Walker, and all of them had been within the past year.

She gazed intently at him.

"Are you thinking that maybe Sylvan -- wasn't a name?"

Charles didn't say anything, so she continued:

"Well, I've always been rather fanciful, so naturally I've entertained the notion that I was a half-elf. But never seriously. I mean, I could've sort of looked the part, I always thought it was COMPLETELY impossible. Now having elven blood isn't impossible anymore. Though it still seems quite improbable, of course. Just one of my childhood fantasies, really."

[Claenoic]

In spite of her weakness, Shuina hobbled as fast as she could to Mara's side. "Mara? Is anything the matter?"

"Shut up, you."

Shuina was puzzled. "Me?"

Mara blinked, turned, and smiled. "Nothing. Just this damned ring."

[Finrod Felagund]

OOC: Zavron, I'm gonna ask that you not play a character that is Istari, elf maybe, but not Istari.

Originally posted by AudrentheRanger
ooc: isn't Marlin spelled Merlin?

OOC: Yes it's spelled Merlin. Marlin is sometyhing different than Merlin, it's an island. Don't worry I'll explain later.

[Silverstripe]

"Come on, let's catch up with the others," said Jenna. She ran to join Mara and Shuina.

[zavron]

ooc: Ok I'll be an elf:)

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys looked at Jenna, "Yes, I thought you looked elvish, that's part of the reason I asked you to come. You didn’t know?” Jenna shook her head.
“Well,” said Mr. Emrys, “I guess I should tell you everything now.” They all sat on the grass. “I believe I remember everything now. I am Myrddin Emrys, translated that is Merlin Ambrosious. Which means yes, I am the Merlin of King Arthur. My mother was a noblewoman of Britain, my father I never knew but he was the son of Arantar, king of the high elves of Marlin. Marlin was a continent. Marlin was the only other place, other than Middle Earth…and Valinor…where elves resided en masse. Marlin was created by the Ainur but left much more to it’s own devices, whether Morgoth had a hand in it’s evil, none know. The first two to awaken there were Osan, the Elf king, and Izak, lord of the evil sogan. That is unimportant, what is important is that Arantar’s third wife was the daughter of Elrohir, son of Elrond. That is how, distantly, I have Maiar blood, through Luthien down to Elrond. Arantar was a full blooded elf. That was shortly before the destruction of Marlin. It fell, like Atlantis before it. However, Arthur was also distantly descended from elves and the sword Excalibur was the sword of Osan. There were gems of power which the elves created, most were lost in Marlin’s fall but some were saved. The second greatest of the elfstones was the one set in the hilt of Excalibur.”

[Finrod Felagund]

“The elves who escaped Marlin, including Arantar, came to Britain where they settled Avalon and they shrouded it with magic. Glastonbury Tor is not Avalon, though it is the closest thing to it seen by man. For the elves once had a colony there. Now we have seen that Mara is to be the ring bearer.” Mara dropped her head. “I believe that Shuina has a part to play as well. Shuina, you will be the protector of Mara and we must find you a weapon of power. And not only marlinean elves remain, those who we know as ‘Tolkien’s elves’ are very, very few, but a few remain, hiding in Britain. Now we must go to Avalon, but I know a place where you can wait not far from here. From there, I will go to see if the eleves remain and send back for you.”

The company walked for an hour until they came to a hill. Mr. Emrys stopped them. “Rest here, this is where I first got lost as a child and was led to Avalon and my grandfather Arantar, and you can call me Myrddin now if you like, although Merlin might be too obvious. I will return soon.”

[Laicalasse]

hello. um....... can i join please? i have a hobbit character and an elf character:

Elf:
Name: Laicalasse Silverwood
Wrom: DOTWFAOB
Looks: long blonde hair with black streaks. short for an elf. slight curl at the end of her hair.
Abilities: Can call up the wind, fire, water and earth spirits. can also fight rather well with bow and arrows or two long-knives also has three daggers for emergencys.

Hobbit:
Name: Lily Took
Wrom: UZXUWLSZL
Looks: black curly hair. tall for a hobbit.
Abilities: fights with bow and arrows. also with short sword that glows blue when orcs are close. (from Gondolin. like Sting)

[Laicalasse]

ack! the elf is from mirkwood and the hobbit is from the shire. it wouldn't edit and it came up wrong. sorry.

[Finrod Felagund]

OOC: Please Sign up at the "LOTR 2002" thread. You can be the elf who finds me in the mists on the way to Avalon. I will play Arantar. I think we should leave any hobbits till later though. Your elf can be one of the few remaining "Tolkien Elves".

[Laicalasse]

thankyou

[Finrod Felagund]

OOC: Please try to read what has happened so far, it's a bit complicated. Everyone try to read my two long posts, yes they're long but explain a lot.

[Laicalasse]

i gotta go now so i'll read it later. see ya!:)

[AudrentheRanger]

Charles looked at Jenna. She seemed pale.
"What's wrong?" he asked.

[Silverstripe]

"Didn't you hear what Mr. Emrys said?" asked Jenna. She could not yet bring herself to use his first name.

"If Mr. Emrys is right -- and I'm certain that he is -- then I really am a half elf. All my life, Charles, you know I always hoped there was some mysterious reason my mother couldn't be in my life. Now I think that there really is one. I've just out that my life wasn't what I thought it was, that I am not what I thought I was, and it isn't easy."

Jenna smiled weakly at her cousin.

"I'll be okay. Just need a little time to think."

[Earniel]

Mara rubbed her temples slowly. Things were getting weirder and weirder. Elven colonies, wizards, halfelven and God knew what more. Mara was sure that any one mentioned forming a fellowship, she'd scream. She glanced sideways at Shuina who was sitting next to her. So she would become my protector, mused Mara. She shivered. Let's hope it doesn't comes to that.

"Shuina," Mara said, "can you promise me something?"
Shuina gave Mara a questioning look, mixed with some concern. "Depends on what it is..." she replied slowly.
"If I start hissing and muttering 'gollum, gollum' hit me, okay?"
Shuina looked at her for a second and then nodded.

[Claenoic]

The pain in Shuina's arm settled to a slow throbbing. This made it easier to walk, and, even better, she no longer shivered, and, even better than that, she could see again. Partially. At least she didn't bump into anything. She counted that as a good thing.

What worried her was the whole load of elvish information that she had to sort, and eventually store in her mental library. Ick. And... Mara's protector? She had taken archery briefly when she was 13-ish, and she was tempted to take fencing, but... a "magic" weapon? Was this out of her league?

Then the "Gollum, gollum" question came up from nowhere. She had to smile. That was comforting, if not funny.

[Finrod Felagund]

Myrddin walked through the mists slowly remembering every detail of the first time he had been lost in the mists. Then he stopped, was he lost? "Damn!" he muttered, "I thought..." Suddenly and elf appeared before him. "Who are you?" She said.
"I am Merlin Ambrosious" he said proudly.
"I am Laicalasse Silverwood" she replied, "What do you want?"
He looked her in the eye and said "I want to see king Arantar."
He was instantly surrounded by elven guards.
"I am his grandson," he finished.
"He'll tell us that" replied Laicalasse Silverwood.
Laicalasse sent the elves to tell the king what was heappening.
"Wait!" called Myrddin, "My companions, we need to go get them. They bear a burden, thought to have been destroyed. One that closely concerned someone you knew well, Legolas Greenleaf."
She nodded, rather suprised and the two of them went back to the hill top where everyone waited.

[zavron]

ooc: Where is my carachter? it's time for the lord of the nazgul to come back!

ic:

'' kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrr'' The scream echoed through tthe mist's surrounding them. ''ASH NAZG DRABARTULUK, ASH NAZG GIMBATUL, ASH NAZG THRAKATULUK AGH BURZUM-ISHI KRIMPATUL! Kaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr!!!'' The voices surrounded the company and was closing in fast.

Suddenly out of the Mist came the Lord of the Nazgul, Then slowly from all around the company the Nazgul appeared following in the wake of their Lord. He unsheathed his sword and It glowed with a Black Radiance. He held out his hand before them. [I]''The ring, give me the Ring!!'' suddenly Mara stepped forward and produced the ring in front of her and started to walk slowly toward the nazgul King, her eyes had gone a milky white and she seemed to be in a sort of trance. ''no Mara!!'' Mr. Emrys shouted. The elf that had just joined them drew her sword and swungat the Nazgul King, The nazgul King deflected the blow. Mara stopped Blinked and the white left her eyes, she dropped to the ground in a feint. The elf parleyed the blows of the Nazgul King, The other nazgul drew their swords and rushed in to defend their Master. Mr. Emrys stood in their way held out his hand and a blast of fire emitted from it. the nazgul screeched and fled followed by the Nazgul king.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys shouted "Follow the Elf!"
Laicalasse ran forward into the mist and everyone followed, Myrddin Emrys brought up the rear.
They soon ran into the elven company which was walking, Laicalasse spoke to them and they went back the way that they had been coming.
Laicalasse explained that she had sent them to scout the area for the Nazgul.


OOC: If the nazgul attack Avalon, know that they will be defeated, not destroyed but defeated, a colony of elves could wipe you out.

[Claenoic]

Shuina cursed under her breath. The throbbing and shivering had started up again with just one look at the King. She slapped Mara to wake her. "Sorry, mellon, it must be done," she muttered.

[Earniel]

Mara woke with a start, nearly throwing Shuina off balance. "What? What happened?" She rubbed her cheek where Shuina had slapped her. She felt confused and couldn't exactly remember what had happened. "What happened? Why did you hit me? Don't tell me I went all gollumy that soon!"

[zavron]

ooc; The Nazgul won't attack avalon alone if they do, but you will still win, everyone knows the good guys allways win! Well...in some cases.:D

[Claenoic]

Shuina nodded, and said in a droll voice, "Unfortunately, you did. It was very creepy. Please do not do that again. And - Eru curse it all!" she swore, "The mist is back..."

Mara was puzzled. "The mist?"

[Earniel]

"The mist?" Mara asked. She saw a thick grey mist enveloping them. "I know we're in Engeland, but that isn't normal anymore!" The mist had an abnormal dense quality to it. Mara wondered that if she extended her hand it would bounce back. "Where are we?" she asked, trying not to sound panicking.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys apppeared next to them. "These are the legendary mists of Avalon. You must go through them to reach it and you will only find your way if led by one who knows it. Do not fear, these are not evil mists and you will be safe if your intentions are true and right."

[Claenoic]

Shuina nearly collapsed with relief. Her mind was working at half strength, but she could figure out that: Good Mist + Protective Cover= No Nazgul. She rubbed her now aching again arm and hoped that Avalon would be close... VERY close...

[Silverstripe]

Jenna was still walking alongside the others, though she had said little to them so far. She wasn't really very good at starting conversations with strangers, especially, it seemed, in circumstances like these. But they hadn't told her much yet, and although she had basically figured out what was going on, she still had a few questions.

"How -- er -- did things come to this, I mean, what exactly happened before you met my cousin and me?"

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys sighed, "I was not there from the beginning but basically, the ring was found with what we believe to be Gollum's skeleton in and extinct volcanoe in California. I tried to intercede and the lord of the nazgul attacked, Shuina was struck with the black breath and so I decided that Avalon would be our hope to heal her and find assistance. Ask the others for more info, Dr. Jenstad and Martinez have been very quiet so, maybe they've had time to think."

[Earniel]

OOC: It's Shuina that is struck with the black breath. Mara is just stuck with the ring. :)

IC: "What kind of assistance will they be able to give us?" Mara asked Mr. Emrys. "Would they happen to know the location of a second Mount Doom to chuck the ring in or so?"

[Finrod Felagund]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Eärniel
[B]OOC: It's Shuina that is struck with the black breath. Mara is just stuck with the ring. :)

OOC: Oops, I've edited it now.

IC: Mr. Emrys sighed again, "Well, there was only one mount doom, but, I believe there may be one other place, however...It is gone but...I think we should get you healed before anything, and equip ourselves with proper weaponry."
Suddenly, the mist cleared and they were on a beach. The sun shone brightly and the beach changed into rolling grassy hill a few feet from the water. There was a clump of buildings in the distance. There, in front of the company, was a large group of elves, all well armed. In there midst, stood a tall, beautiful but old looking elf wearing a crown. He walked to where Myrddin stood and embraced him. "You've come home at last my child" the elf king whispered. He turned to the company, "I am Arantar, and was once king of the high elves of Marlin, welcome to Avalon."

[Claenoic]

Shuina tried to cheer when they made it. *Tried* being the key word. All that came out is some sort of gurgle/grumble. Not a very pretty sound. Shuina immediately shut up and let the Wizard and elf talk. Just seeing an elf lord made her eyes clear a little.

[Finrod Felagund]

After a few moments of murmered talk, Shuina suddenly felt a gentle hand on her cheek.
"Rest child" soothed a voice, she opened her eyes to see king Arantar smiling at her. "Sleep now dear girl," unwillingly, she felt herself drift into a deep sleep.

[Claenoic]

Shuina fell asleep so quickly, she didn't feel herself drop on the ground. It was sorta of peaceful, like she was made out of mist and she was as light as a feather. And something felt odd. She identified this as the feel of no throbbing pain in her arm, or the cold. And that, was bliss.

[Earniel]

Mara looked on as king Arantar applied his healingskills to Shuina. "Will she be all right?" she asked Mr. Emrys. "Quite so." he replied, "She may experience some ache afterwards but only now and then. Lord Arantar is a very skilled healer, Shuina could be in no better hands." "Let's hope so." murmered Mara. She had grown to appreciate the tolkienfanatic-girl over the last few days. And if Mr. Emrys was right about Shuina being her protector, Mara would have to rely on Shuina a lot in the future. "When will she wake up again?"

[zavron]

I didn't understand anything that was going on. It was time to ask a question.

''Errr...excuseme...but what's going on!!'' I shouted out.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys gasped. he didn't realize tht Mr. McCartmey had followed them.

[zavron]

''Please explain or I will be forced to get the police!!''

[Finrod Felagund]

King Arantar stepped towards Mr. McCartney. "The Police don't know how to get here, unless they are led by us elves, they can never rach Avalon." His mouth twitched with a smile. Mr. Emrys smiled too, "Have you ever heard of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, The Lord of the Rings? Well, we have found the ring, which was supposedly destroyed, and we must now destroy it, or else the world will be plunged into darkness."

[zavron]

''Errr...Okey Dokey! I'll help! Got a bit of a pointless life anyway!'' I said.

[Finrod Felagund]

OOC: NO! IT CAN'T DIE!

[Silverstripe]

ooc: Okay, I'll try to help here.:)

ic: Jenna stared at the tour guide. How in the world could he be taking things so calmly?! Maybe he was just one of those people who was never EVER surprised by anything. But then again...

"Did you know about this somehow?" Jenna asked Mr. McCartney.

She herself was still awed by what she had been told, and the sudden appearance of the elf. But somehow once you'd gotten past the part about Middle Earth actually being real, nothing else seemed quite as surprising anymore.

[Finrod Felagund]

.

[Nariel]

Kathy's head was spinning. She had no idea what was going on, but figured everything would be explained soon enough. Dr. Jenstad looked as if he had entered a perpetual state of confusion, just like she had. But the others seemed to have figured it out. hmm.

[zavron]

ooc: Hey can I be something like Aragorn, The heir to the true throne or something? I could have a NickName called Swift! I could be Half-Elven Mortal guy! You know Arwen was kind of a Mortal elf after she got married.

[zavron]

''I am not what I seem.'' I said. ''My true name is Aralyn Son of Aralorn Heir to Aragorn son of Arathorn Heir to Isildur, Elendil son! Hmmm...But you may call me Swift!'' I said smiling. ''I was sent here by The Elves to meet you and watch over you. I know that this is strange to you, but our meeting was not coincidence. The Stories, as you know, are true. Did you not think that there may have been a Descendent to Aragorn out there?'' I asked them all. The elves all new who i was and mr.emrys did too...well I shouldn't say emrys.

[Earniel]

This was too much for Mara, she started laughing. She laughed hard until she ran out of breath. But she sobered up when she saw Swift's hurt expression. She blushed deeply. "Oh, I'm sorry I'm really sorry, Mr McCartney, um Aralyn.... no ... Swift. It's the nerves, I swear." She took a deep breath.

"It's just that it seems I landed in a fairy tale itself. I mean evil rings and elves and kings and Avalon and now long lost heirs... I didn't mean to laugh but this is getting over my head. I'm really really sorry and ermm..." She felt uneasy under the stares of the others.

"I think I'm going to see how Shuina's doing before I make a total fool of myself." she said quickly as she walked over to where Shuina was sleeping. Mara silently chided herself for behaving like someone mentally ill. She wondered what sort of surprises still lay ahead.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys was slightly suprised. "I had wondered" he said to Swift, "About an heir to Aragorn, I knew somewhere he had to have descendants." Mr. Emrys turned to everyone and raised his voice, "Everyone, I have been thinking and have realized something. The so-called Witch King who we encountered is not the true Witch King. It was Khamul, second of the Nazgul, and there are not nine nazgul, there are eight. How could we have forgotten Meriadoc and Lady Eowyn on the Pellenor Fields?"
"This is good news," said Arantar.
"Yes" replied Mr. Emrys, "But eight Nazgul is still eight too many."

[Finrod Felagund]

.

[zavron]

''Hmmm...the others are still weaker than their lord. It is something to celebrate!! Also...I have been wondering about Hobbits. I guess that they are still around, but I cannot imagine where!'' I said. I pondered this thought thorougly until it hurt to think.

[Claenoic]

Shuina was relaxing as a cloud for a while, until a sound positioned her attention below. There seemed to be an elf, motioning her to come back down to earth. Literally.

Shuina groaned. Although she knew the Elf was right, she wanted to fly a bit longer. It had been one of her childhood dreams to soar like a bird. With another almighty groan, she set off for land. As she glided closer to where the elf stood, the world darkened. She was suddenly aware that she was lying down, and her eyes would not open.

This problem was encountered many times before by humankind. Whenever a person had to wake up, he or she knew they must wake up, their bodies wouldn't obey their most heated commands.

Listen, she inwardly growled to her inanimate eyelids, If you guys won't open up by the time I count to ten, I will MAKE you open and gouge out those lovely peepers you're currently covering! 1... 2...

[Finrod Felagund]

"Awaken child" whispered King Arantar, "Come down, we need you, you are the protector."
Shuina awakened with a start.

[Claenoic]

"What on...?"

Shuina blinked and rubbed her eyes. Mara and the Elf lord called Arantar were staring at her, But she wasn't at all uncomfortable. In fact, she never felt better. She sat up and stretched. "I had a nice dream. I wonder-" She stopped in the middle of her sentence. She looked down at her hand and told it mentally to wiggle.
It wiggled.

A broad grin slowly inched across her face. Shuina flexed her arm and stretched her fingers out. Silently, she celebrated. At last! Her arm was in full working condition.

[Earniel]

"How do you feel?" asked Mara.

Shuina grinned. "All set to take on Nazgûl myself."

King Arantar looked serious. "That may not be such a wise decision right now."

Shuina shrugged. "It was only a joke."

"This is no laughing matter. For now the nazgûl still exceed your strength."

"But now that we are talking about it, I don't think we can keep on running from them forever." interrupted Mara. "In fact I want those gothic guys out of my life and me back in there. This whole situation is starting to freak me out and I'm not that stress-proof."

"Be at peace, Mara. You will not have to bear this burden longer than necesary." said Arantar assuringly.

"How much longer?"

"Now that Shuina is healed, we will hold counsel right away." King Arantar turned to the rest of the group. "Come, we have much matters to discuss. Please follow me."

He led them to a larger room with comfortable seats. "Please be seated."

[Claenoic]

Shuina sat down in a chair (one that did not look like it belonged to Arantar; she did NOT want to be embarrassed by her own folly!) and immediately started to bite her thumbnail. She was unused to all of this pressure.

[Nariel]

"Okay, hold on," Kathy said. "Maybe I dazed for a minute here, but as far as I know, don't we still have a Ring to destroy and a Dark Lord to defeat?"

ooc: how'd we get to England anyway. We were in Los Angeles. And are we still going to Russia? Hey wait, I'm the mod of this game. So yeah. Anyway, could someone explain how we got to England? I must have missed that memo.:D

[Claenoic]

OOC: ... Umm... you haven't read all of the story from where you left off have you? I'd think you'd better, but here's a basic run through:

We decide not to shoot it to the sun, because 1. Something could follow us and 2. We don't know if Mount Doom was special in any way. So in that case, it wouldn't work.

At that moment, Mara drops the ring and a Nazgul picks it up. (He squeezed in). Shuina eventually wards it off with a log from the fire, but gets infected with the Black Breath. So, to kill two birds with one stone, we all pack up and head for England so Shuina can get treated at Avalon (nice twist, IMHO) and we can discuss the situation to the elves currently there.

[Finrod Felagund]

OOC: IMHO? In My Humble Opinion?

[zavron]

I walked up to the courtyard centre. Ther4e stood a statue of a King. I smiled. In it's stomne hands lay a broken sword. It was not like the other parts of the statue. For one thing; it was not made of stone, but of metal. I stepped towards the statue and felt the blade. It was smooth and sharp. I ran my finger down it's middle. Although it was shattered, you could cleary see the tracing of a device of seven stars set between the crescent moon and the rising sun. Anothe odd thing about the statue, was that it wore a Ring. It was fashioned in the form of twin serpents with emeralds for eyes, their heads meeting beneath golden flowers which one devours and the other upholds.

I tore my eyes from the statue and looked over at a small balcony type room. There the tow people who I had brought here were sat. I sensed something about them, strange it was. Mr. Emrys, had a sense of a wizard. And the two girls had a sense of Frodo and sam, long ago. I turned and headed towards them.

I was dressed in some tattred clothes, with a leather tunic. I wore a cloak with a Green Broach shaped like a leaf. I had a bow and quiver strapped to my back. I wore some leather arm shields, which bore the emblem of a White tree.

[Finrod Felagund]

.

[Nariel]

Kathy's eyes suddenly rolled up into her head and she collapsed onto the ground. THe others gathered around her. "She is fatigued," said one of the Elves. "And she suffers. SHe was also a Ring-bearer, was she not?"

"Yes," someone said.

"Then we shall do what we can. But be warned, for the Ring does not release Men from its hold."

Kathy heard all of this faintly, but couldn't move. All she could do was stare through her closed eyes at the Red Eye that was before her, growing and growing.

Katharina, katharina

She tried to turn away, but it wouldn't let go

Katharina, Katharina

"Not here," she thought. "Not now. GO away!" she shouted at it in her head. Suddenly she sat up and screamed, but her eyes wouldn't open.

KATHARINA!!

[Earniel]

'The Ring does not release Men from its hold.' That sentense echoed in Mara's head. She didn't want it but she was feeling the panic rise again as she looked at the limp body of dr. Martinez.

I'm of the race of Men too, Mara realised horrofied. I'm not as strong as a hobbit.

Mara suddenly felt cold and she pulled her sweater thighter around her. Before her mind's eye the walls seem to drop away and the lands around her seemed grey, dead and exposing. Mara looked up and above her in the sky shone no sun. But the sky was filled with a large red eye that stared down on her unblinking. She had never seen it before although she recognized it instantly and Mara felt her resolve dwindle to nothing under the unyielding scrutiny.

Then Kathy's scream tore the dream image apart and Mara stood again in the real world, as far as that word could be ascribed to the elven home. Shaking she sat down as others tended to dr. Martinez. "I don't think I can do this..." she whispered very softly.

[Finrod Felagund]

"Mara" whispered Mr. Emrys, "Frodo was no stronger than you. Have faith in yourself and your friends."

[Claenoic]

Shuina relaxed as Mara snapped out of it. That is, Mara stopped looking at something that Shuina herself couldn't see. Mara looked a little tired, now that the Asian girl looked closely, but otherwise fine. Shuina shot what she hoped was a comforting smile to her friend and settled to watch the proceedings.

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys then addressed the whole group. "I think now we must decide how to destroy the ring. Dr. Martinez believes we should shoot it to the sun and as of yet there have been no other ideas. Does anyone else have anything to offer? Because if not, we will be heading to Russia. I see it being easier to get a shuttle there than in America."

[Earniel]

"Frankly" Mara said, "I don't think there is any other option available than shooting it in the sun. Mount Doom is no longer active and it's fires are gone. If the sun doesn't melt the Ring, at least it will be safely out of reach of everyone. But how will we get to Russia? The ...wraiths are still out there, beyond the mist. We need a good head-start at least if we wish to reach Russia. Is there a way we can leave Avalon without them noticing us leaving?"

[Finrod Felagund]

Arantar nodded, "We could sent you by boat over to Ireland, and Myrddin could have his jet flown there to pick you up."

[Nariel]

Kathy couldn't see, but she could hear. Her eyes were glazed over, but she sat up. "I can see them. I can see them," she whispered, almost inaudibly. "They're coming! They're coming.... There's no escape. No escape." Her body spasmed and she fell to the ground again, shaking and inhaling labouriously.

[Earniel]

With combined effort they helped Kathy in a seat. One of the elves gave her a goldcoloured liquid which -he assured the other humans- would get her on her feet fast.

"Well if there were any doubts I guess this decides it." said Mara rising from her seat. " Let's get out of here fast. I don't really want to be here if they do come. The sooner this thing is over the better! Let's go!"

King Arantar held up his hands. "Although speed is needed, thoughtless haste is not. The Ringwraiths are doubtlesly patroling the mist barrier. However they will not get through, you can rest assured of that. Moreso it will take some planning and preparation to get you to leave Avalon unnoticed. And today has been a tiring day for all. Accept our hospitality for tonight, tomorrow we will have your boat ready for your escape."

With that the council was closed and everyone was led to a comfortable bedroom. There were however only a few who slept much that night.

[Claenoic]

That night, Shuina couldn't sleep. Oh sure, she was in the equivalent to a misty Rivendell, and, yes, the bed and the pillows were very comfortable. And the elves singing (didn't they ever do their kind of SLEEPING?) was certainly better than any CD. BUT SHE WAS NOT UP TO ANY TRAVELING.

Yes, Avalon was beautiful beyond her imagination. But would she encounter anymore wonderful places like this? According to the Appendices, the Mellyrn of Lothlorien faded. No freaky cool place on the way.

And she was starting to seriously get worried about Mara. If a hobbit could just barely get to Mount Doom, what chance did a Human have?

These questions and more circled around in her head, so she spent the rest of her night in Paradise on her front, chin on pillow, staring at the head board on her bed...

[Silverstripe]

ooc: I'm still here, and I'm trying to find my way back into the story. It could be a bit difficult, so please bear with me.


ic: Elves don't sleep.

This thought occurred to Jenna Walker sometime in the middle of the night, as she listened to the elves sing. That much she remembered from stories her mother had told her, after the eighteen years Cassandra Walker had spent ignoring her daughter's existence.

Well, I doubt many of US are going to be able to sleep tonight, either. I'm definitely not. Jenna sighed. She had trouble sleeping under normal circumstances, let alone when the fate of the world was at stake. She knew her cousin wouldn't sleep either; he'd probably spend the night trying to come up with a theory on why the ring hadn't been destroyed.


And what role do I have to play in all this? Jenna asked herself. The others had been involved from the beginning, all but Charles and Jenna. And Aralyn, perhaps, but he didn't really count.

Charles had picked things up fast, and now seemed so natural with the rest of the group, that Jenna could not doubt that he was meant to go on this quest. But Jenna wasn't confident that she belonged there. She was willing to go with the company if she was truly needed ... but if she wasn't? What then? Should she turn back?

No, I'm already here. Even if I can only help a little, I should still help.

Trying to forget the doubt in her mind, Jenna turned her thoughts to her mother. Ordinarily thoughts of Cassandra Walker wouldn't have been comforting for Jenna, but now, they were. For as she thought of her mother and the father she had never known, a sense of peace came over her, and for the rest of that night, she was unafraid.

[Finrod Felagund]

Myrddin walked for most of the night with Arantar, speaking long with his grandfather who he hadn't seen in over a thousand years. Arantar still looked in his forties, although thousands of years of wisdom and weariness were seen in his eyes.
"Sometimes it is a curse, this immortal life." he told Myrrdin.
Myrddin nodded, "But grandfather, we are here for a reason. Look at me. I look like I'm ancient, yet I'm only a tiny fraction of your age. Am I immortal or just extremely long lived. Am I to be another Altan? To die unexpectedly, Or will I live until the end of the world? You have no such uncertainties."

Arantar nodded, "But I feel those things with you. And my child, I have seen my people die, disappear. My home was submerged and lost forever. It is not so easy...Merlinus...we are here."

Myrddin stopped and looked ahead to a grove of oak trees. There in the centre of the grove was a glass coffin. Myrrdin looked for a moment, then looked down, took a deep breath and walked forward slowly. Arantar watched as Merlin Ambrosious approached the coffin, on which was carved this inscription, Here lies Arthur, the once and future king .

[Nariel]

After the Elves had given her that golden drink-- which she thought tasted like orange honey, only ten times better-- Kathy's mind had cleared up and she was more in control of her actions. She didn't really remember much of her delirium, but there was an ominous haze in the back of her memories. In any case, she couldn't sleep long. She awoke after midnight and began wandering through the area. The elves were singing. Didn't they ever stop? As she walked past the others' rooms, she noticed they wer also awake. And suddenly she was outside. The warm air felt pleasant as she made her way to, well, she didn't exactly know where she was going.

[Finrod Felagund]

ooc: yes! keep 'em coming!

[Earniel]

In the end Mara surprisingly did manage to sleep the better part of the night, though nightmares made it a far from pleasant sleep.

She woke from her troubled sleep when a tiny ray of sunlight wormed it's way through the curtains and fell in her eyes. While rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she realised she held something clutched in her hand. It was the One Ring.

She sighed. Yesterday it had been on a key chain attached to her belt which still lay on the heap that were her clothes. And she didn't remember taking it with her to bed. Though that came as no surprise.

"I'm never going to get rid of you, am I precious?" she said mockingly as she held the jewel up in the sunlight. She sighed again. "I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't gamble and I don't do drugs. But still I had to get addicted..... No fair."

Quickly Mara got dressed and after attaching the Ring back to the chain she left her room to see how her compagnions were doing. She found them already up and awake at breakfast and most of them looked like they had spend the night waking.

[Claenoic]

Shuina was awake. Kind of. Not really. Actually, practically sleepwalking. She did manage to put a cold goblet of water on her neck, waking her up for (hopefully) the next three hours. When Mara walked in, Shuina was considerably, more awake than that morning. She waved a buttered pastry at her friend and motioned her to sit down at one of the tables.

[Earniel]

Mara smiled as she saw Shuina waving enthousiastically with a pastry. She sat down next to her friend and sniffed the elven food. It smelled good and Mara's stomach growled in anticipation. She quickly attacked the food.

While taking a few slices of bread she looked at the rest of her group. Shuina still looked a little sleepy but seemed to be in reasonable high spirits. Mr. Emrys, or Myrrdin (she hadn't really figured out which one she was to call him) was rather silent and thoughtfull. Dr. Martinez looked a bit pale and troubled. Mara wondered if she has slept at all. The other girl Jenna seemed wonderfully at ease in this elven environment.

From the corner of her eye Mara saw Arantar approaching. A smile played across the ageless face as he saw his human guests enjoy their breakfast. Though as Mara looked at him, she imagined seeing a worried frown cross the Elf's face.

The Elf solfty coughed untill he had the attention of his guests. "The boat is ready," he said. "We're loading in some stores and a few items you may find useful on your yourneyl. You can be on your way to Ireland by noon. From that point on you're on your own. Our power does not stretch that far."

[Earniel]

OOC: Was there an 'Abandon ship!' and no one informed me of it? So is this RPG truly dead? :confused:

[Finrod Felagund]

OOC: No. If people would just keep posting...grrr...

[Nariel]

ooc: NO! DOn't let it die!!!! Here, I'll even post to give you all something to deal with...

KAthy looked around at breakfast as she poked at her food. She wasn't hungry. "WHere's Dr. Jenstad?" she asked.

"He left during the night," said one of the elves. "He felt he was no use to the group."

Kathy was grieved. He was pretty much her only friend. And the only one that wouldn't stand to see her slowly going insane. Why would he have left?

As they loaded into the boat later, she was still in a blue mood from having heard that. Or maybe it was caused by the growing shadow in her mind.

[Finrod Felagund]

OOC: YES! Everyone Post!

[Claenoic]

OOC: Alright, alright!! -_- Don't be so pushy...

Shuina blinked. "Oh... ship. Right."

A few elves turned around and blinked politely in return, then shifted back into their seats. Shuina blushed in embarrassment. She must be more groggy than she had thought.

'Still,' she thought, clearing the space around her plate, "I should be awake at least until we get to the ship. Then I can get some sleep. Meanwhile... did I pack everything? And did Mara forget anything...' Shuina walked quickly to her room.

[Earniel]

OOC: You know Finrod, people might be more inspired to post by an actual post from you than just an order to post. ;)

IC:

In her room Mara quickly stuffed her things into her rucksack. Not that she had brought so much with her considering their rather hasty departure from America. She checked whether the Ring was still securely attached to her key chain. It would be rather embarrasing if that was the one thing she would forget to pack, however unlikely.

After a last check in her room, she closed the door. It had a feeling of finality about that Mara didn't really like.

She quickly went to the boat where some of the rest were already loading in their personal luggage. Dr. Martinez looked mightly downcast. The departure of Dr. Jenstad had hit her pretty hard it seems. Mara wondered if she should go and talk to her. Finally she walked over to dr. Martinez. "I'm sorry about your friend," she said softly.

[Finrod Felagund]

Before the boats left, Arantar gave each of them an elven dagger and elven cloak. "These I give you for your journey."
Then he smiled and said "You will have hardship, but together you will suceed."
He then embraced Mr. Emrys and whispered something in his ear. Then, the boats left. Carrying The original group from America (minus Dr. Jenstad) , the two teenagers from the airport, Aragorn's heir and the elf who had led them through the mist.

[Earniel]

Mara put the cloak and dagger in her rucksack. They were very beautiful but hardly something to walk around in. They still were in the modern world, even if the visit to Avalon had made it seem otherwise.

The wind brought a welcome breeze of fresh sea air. There was some mist at sea but the elven helmsman steered the boat well. And the little company were in reasonably good spirits. They were succeeding in escaping the nazgûl which was always a good reason for merriment. Even dr. Martinez seemed to have accepted the departure of dr. Jenstad.

"How long will it take us to get to Ireland?" Mara asked the elf at the helm.

"With this wind, but a few hours, young one. Be at ease and enjoy the beauty of the sea. Hear how gulls cry! It's a good day to be at sea!"

Mara smiled at the term 'young one' and at the enthousiasm of the elf. Soon they would be in Ireland. And after that Mr. Emrys' jet could take them to Russia where dr. Martinez could get them at the shuttle to shoot that blasted piece of gold into the sun. Theoretically it sounded good, time would tell if reality went just as smooth.

[Claenoic]

Shuina had gotten her sea-legs a bit later than the rest, so she spent the first two or three days on the ship in the cabin, trying to keep her balance. So it was a lot later when she felt that she could walk around without being bowled over. When she did, though, the teen spent a large amount of time exploring the ship, asking the steers-elf a variety of questions (which he managed to stave off gallantly), looking at the sea, and studying maps. She was mostly pleased with the entire sea-going experience, and knew that this happy time would probably stop abruptly. So she tried to make the others as cheerful as possible. With, admittedly, little success.

[Earniel]

It was early in the evening when they finally reached Ireland. A convenient fog was slowly rising; it would hide their landing from prying eyes. They couldn't exactly enter the harbour with their Elven ship so they were put on land a little further off.

Quickly the luggage was unloaded and soon the entire little fellowship stood on Irish ground. With a last goodbye the Elven ship turn around and disappeared in the fog.

"Let's go," said Mr. Emrys. "We don't have to go far tonight but I would like to get there before it's get to dark."

None of them objected. Staying out at night in the darkness was something no one was very keen on.

"Wait, did anyone hear that?" Mara said suddenly.

"What did you hear?" asked Dr. Martinez.

"Something like a scream."

"Probably just a gull," offered Jenna.

Suddenly they all heard a faint, far-off but well known screech. Mara and Dr. Martinez paled.

"No!" cried Mara in panic. "It's the nazgûl! They can't have found us so soon!"

"Hush, be calm" said Mr. Emrys sternly. "The fog will hide us."

"The fog won't bother them! They can see me right through it!"

OOC: This will be my last post for a month. I'm going on holiday tomorrow. See you! :)

[Finrod Felagund]

Mr. Emrys nodded thoughfully. "Paddle faster," he said, "we may need some magic soon, and I must prepare myself."