Writewraiths in Middle Earth

[Fred Baggins]

I giggled. I knew what Star thought, and knew she was wrong. Mrs. W walked next to me, a VERY confused look covered her face. I just rode on, huggung Dawn, and the book to me. The book of music, Disney songs, that my parents had gotten me.

[Lubyla]

I fell back a few paces, hopeing history wouldn't repeat its self in that way. I took out my journal, and scribbled a few things in it. I wanted to ask how much longer, but I didn't for I would have broken my silence.

[Adrian Baggins]

I stood(or sat, not sure right now), rooted to the spot, how had that girl known I was a princess. I had told no other soul besides the Emperess, and shehad already known, maybe this girl ha already know as well.

[Fred Baggins]

ooc: Opps, sorry Adrian, just to let you know, and I think you do know, Frieda is gone. Guess I didn't make myself clear enough. I also guess your the only other active that doesn't know also, that Frieda's a Time Traveler, which explains why she knows. But of course yer character won't know.

ic: I watched her with careful eyes, as she seemed engrosed with the horse. Her eyes where a soft brown, just like the horse. This starteled me a bit, as I remembered her eyes being a darker brown, but a young one's eyes can be expected to change.

[Fred Baggins]

When I looked up again, it was all I could to to keep from shuddering. Dreams are said to be the windows into the futer, but past experiences? Despite it all, I couldn't keep from backing away from the palace. It was partly me, and partly Wind Rider. So horses are smart, otherwise she would never have connected what stood in front of us, as the ruins of my past.

There was no doubt about it. Anyone with imagination, who saw that palace, and the ruins, would be able to put the two and two together. I could just SEE Star making the connection. In voluntarly, my hand strayed to my sword hilt. I felt the same kind of quesieness,(sp) when Glamdring left my side, as I had when the dagger was gone. The only differance was that with the absence of the dagger it was stronger. But that's not why I felt for it. The palace before us was of course the one and the same as the ruins from my past, where I had gotten the sword from.

"Star?" I finally managed to squeek out.

[Lubyla]

I was a bt back, and heard Faith. "Hum?" I often made stupid sounds like that wen I was thinking

[Fred Baggins]

Ok...so mabye I DIDN'T see her figuering it out. I rolled my eyes, this was typical of Star. I walked Wind Rider back to her, grabbed her horses reigns, and pulled her up front. Then I pointed to the palace. ~Don't tell me you can't make the connection!~

[Lubyla]

~I have. I just dont want to believe it.~ I looked up and sighed.The nail polish was chipping off, so I picked at it some more.

[Fred Baggins]

I shook my head, and took a picture out of my pack. Looking at the picture of the ruins, and what stood in front of my, it was obvious. ~Belive it. But how? That's what I would like to know. Those ruins where there before I was born! And...are probably there still. But how?!~

[Lubyla]

~Dont ask me. I dont know these things. I am brain dead.~

[Fred Baggins]

I slapped her. Then I didn't have any idea what to do. (brain block...need...cappachino...)

[Lubyla]

I whined my,'Daddy annoyance whine' "OWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That hurt!!!!!!!!!" I made a pouty like face and sniffed.

[Silverstripe]

I was surprised when Faith suddenly slapped Star, for no reason that I could see.

"What's all this about?! My most valued advisor and my ... my ... well, what DO you want to be anyway, Star? Starlight of the Rain, at any rate, fighting?"

"SNAKE!" shouted Dawn.

[Fred Baggins]

"Huh? Advisor? figh..."

"O!" I almost let go of Dawn, I was laughing so hard. No one knew about our link! She thought I'd hit Star, for no apparent reason! 'She called herself Brain-dead!" Was all I managed to squeez out, between breaths.

[Lubyla]

"Um.....I dont know. It all depends on where my services are needed." I smiled a bit, and thought it would be proper to bow, but as I said before...I'm no proper girl.

[Silverstripe]

I smiled at Star. "I believe that your services are most needed wherever you want to be." I laughed then, seeing that Starlight was trying to be more formal, though it iritated her.

"Star, there's no need to be formal now. Or ever, for that matter, except perhaps if we ever address all the citizens of this kingdom. And if you don't feel comfortable with that, I'll ... well, I'll..." I struggled with a conclusion to that, until remembered something Faith and I had always found funny in Mundane Earth. "I'll knight you or something, you see if I don't!" I pretended to be scolding her, acting as much like the sixteen-year-old Kathie from Mundane Earth as I could.

[Lubyla]

I did my fake sniff thinggy and covered my face, and went into a feeble position" Why are you yelling at me?!?!" I uncovered my face, huge smile, and yawned.

[Fred Baggins]

I never eally stopped laughing. And after the knight thing, I just kept on...and on...and on...until Kathie commented on my face color, and I was sure my scalp was turning red. I hadn't got much sleep...

It took me awhile to stop laughing. The thing that stopped me was opening my eyes enough to see the palace. Forgetting about the link I thought, ~But how DID it get there. The ruins, or whatever. This is just to freaky. Where is the dagger...~ I reached my hand into my pocket, grasping the dagger, and breathing a sigh of relife

[Fred Baggins]

ooc: hmph, I'm replying to my own posts. This is SAD ppl!!!

ic: "SNAKE!" Dawn shouted, pointing at Buddy. I felt myself turn beat red, though I knew she only ment she liked him. Of course she liked him, she would like a bear if it was trying to kill her.
"No Dawn, Buddy, not snake, his name is Buddy. Can you say Buddy?'
"SNAKE!" I sighed, and motioned to Calien.
"Unless I am wrong, Empress, and about these things I am rarely wrong, you know how I've studied up on them, this time you MUSt go first, by custom. The ruler first, followed by there advisor if accompanied by so, then the rest may follow. Of course normally there would be an army before and after us, but in this case...well that'd be a little hard. And I DO think I'm right, unless I miss my mark compleatly and things are much different in Middle-Earth. I'm only a Coun...a Mundane-earther...so I could be wrong." Countess? Where did that come from, and what did it have to do with what I was thinking?

[Silverstripe]

I nodded. "You're right about the custom, Faith. Well, mostly. But I don't want to hear you call yourself 'ONLY a Mundane Earther. Your origin is unique. Be proud of it. In this case, Hunter ought to be in the lead. He's going to be the leader of our army eventually -- so he's really the only army we've got." I sighed, then continued on.

"Then this is the usual way of doing these things. You're right that I'd go first. You'd be next, followed by any of my family members who are here, then nobles according to their rank..." I rolled my eyes, having come to dislike this system in the past five months. "And then anyone else traveling with us, and an army."

[Lubyla]

ooc: Ok, Lubyla is only leaving for a little bit, I just only want to focus on one main character for now.

ic:A bird of scarlet hue flew to Lubyla, and dropped a note. After reading it, Lubyla nodded to the bird, and to Andodulin.

"I hate to do this now, but Andodulin and I must be off, to Osgilliath, where we are needed again. We shall return soon, I hope."With that, the scarlet bird flew off, and Lubyla and Andodulin rode after.

I looked at her in disbelief. What time period of Middle Earth was this? Lubyla went to Gondor often, but never really to give aid, I wonder what was up. I sighed, and fell back, for that was where, 'In the Ranks' I belonged, alone, with Illali by my side, still carrying the bundle from before.

[Fred Baggins]

I fell in line, and nodded. "And of course, by all logicle thinking, He" I motioned to Buddy "Should not even enter. I'm sorry he must." Ever since I had that dream of Danger, in his true form strangling me, though I still couldn't help but place all trust in Buddy, it was still hard. I fingered the dagger. There was something else amiss.

"...Followed by any famliy members there are..."

There where of course no famliy members of her's here, unless you counted Kin, and Terwell. The wind blew a little, and not enough at the same time.

"Starlight Adams is her blood kin."

I felt my eyes go wide. The wind never lies. But it couldn't be possible.

"Starlight Adams is her Kin."

"That's rediculis," I muttered under my breath. but the thought of her neaklace came to me. Calien's mother was relative of Arwen. The carrying of that neaklace could mean something..."Rediculas." I kept my thoughts to myself this time. The idea was to outragous!

[Lubyla]

I looked around. I was a bit scared that Lubyla was gone, but glad Andodulin was with her. "Whats wrong Faith?" Something was up. Even though I could not hear that message of the wind, I knew something was amiss.

[Fred Baggins]

"Nothing,' I lied, rather quickly. Probably badly to, I'm a stinky lier.

[Lubyla]

"Uh-hu. Is that so? I know when something is bothering you Faith, now come, what is it?"

[Fred Baggins]

I stared forward, trying to look as if i wasn't responding to her, and hoped she would get the idea.~Starlight Adams is her blood Kin.~ I rolled my eyes. The wind couldn't have spoken true this time. Star was born in mundane earth, just like me. Not like Calein. Like me. If ANYTHING, Star should be MY kin, not Calien's.

[Silverstripe]

"No, Faith. Logically, Buddy will be where he belongs." I didn't want to admit WHY that was true yet. Not that the memory itself bothered me -- I'd known it all my life. Well, except those five months in Mundane Earth.

But the others didn't need to know, not yet, anyway, what had been troubling me since we first caught sight of the palace. I had chosen not to banish Mauluk, so he was still kin. Not Kin, but kin ... my half-brother. That made Mauluk/Buddy my closest kin besides my parents. If I died without choosing a different heir, he would become the Emperor of the Writewraiths.

This was not necessarily true of the Kin; they elected their leaders for life. If they chose Mauluk as leader after me, that was their decision. And it was Hunter, not Mauluk, who was designated to act as leader if I died, until the Kin could come together to choose a new leader.

But with the Writewraiths ... I had better choose someone else as my heir, and fast!

Not Faith. She was a bit unstable for the position. There was Star, but she seemed to get a little ... well, pathetic ... when danger struck. Then there was Adrian, the hobbit princess. But precisely because she was the princess, she couldn't be my heir; she'd be needed to lead her people.

Ordinarily things wouldn't have been so urgent. I was young, and should've had plenty of time to thing about this. But I could sense that death was near. Very near.


Terwell sensed it, too. <Calien, I think it would be best if I left you for a while. Then Danger won't know where both of us are.> Terwell glared at the warg again. <I'm sorry to part from you, but I feel I MUST go to a safe place.> He would go to his grandmother Mara and her kin, far from the warg who would be Snakesnout.

<I understand.> It would be a relief to know Terwell was safe. Even when I died, Terwell would live, and be far away from the Kingdom of Writewraiths. I knelt and gave Terwell a hug.

Terwell "smiled." <Thank you, Calien. I love you, and I'll see you again soon.> He opened the Link to the young hobbit near Hunter. <It would be nice not to go alone. Lily Brandybuck? I will be leaving the kingdom for a time. Do you want to come with me?> Lily, always up for an adventure, nodded. And then the fox and hobbit scampered off together; Terwell on foot, and Lily riding her little pony.

I waved at Terwell and Lily until they disappeared over the horizon, then turned back to Faith. "Well, shall we enter?"

[Lubyla]

Faith walked away. GRR!!!!! I have it when people do that!!!!! O well, there were more important matters at hand. I was a bit too far behind I believe, and could not hear a word above me. O well, nothing important more than likely.I had blocked out the link between Faith and I, only because I wanted a bit of silence before entering the kingdom, for if it was anything like to ones in Ireland, it was VERY loud, and you had no room to do anything for yourself. Closing my eyes, I patted my sword. If only I had a bow and a quiver of arrows, then I would feel like I really was in MIddle Earth. I looked along the plains. There was a pack of wild horses that rode as they wished. I sighed, pretending to be one of them, to do as I wished. I always had loved horses, how free they were, and birds too.I sighed. Perhaps I shall never see MY horses again, or be able to train them as I had used to. Then I had it! I would train horses for the empress. It would help to bring me to myself.

[Fred Baggins]

"You people are nuts." A voice at my sholder said. It was Mrs. W. "Faith, give me my daughter. I will not have her with children who think they are...whatever you children think you are. Give me my daughter Faith." I gave her a puzzled look, but didn't argue. Adults just don't understand, for do they try. Now as I got older, I understood a little more, but I thought someone like Mrs. W. would understand. Dawn cried as I handed her back to her mother. Amoung her giberish, I thought I understood the words, "Faith" and "stay". I wanted her to stay to. But her mum would find a way home. I knew she would. I hoped she would. I tried to tell Star, but relized she cut me off.

"Star's your blood kin," i absent-mindedly told Calien as the porcesion began moving.

[Lubyla]

I heard nothing of what Faith said to Calien. I took out my notebook, and began to write...

...truely, I do not know if ever 'I shall find my place inn this world, or my own. Why? What is the meaning of being here? O well, perhaps I shall never fit in ever...

I forgot to be silent, and and screamed out, "CURRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!" I had dropped my other quill at the lake.

[Fred Baggins]

I winced, hearing her shout. She had let her gaurd down, and the link. ~What happened? Ran out of ink, or saw your reflection.~ I tried to joke.

[Lubyla]

~I left me quill at the creek, I'll go get it later.~ I looked down. I had let down the link. GRRRR!!!! It was hard to block the first time. o wll, it's not like she tried to tell me something on it before anyway, I'll just leave it be.

[Fred Baggins]

I smiled, and forgot about it. I turned back to Calien

[Silverstripe]

"I didn't know Star was my blood kin, but to tell you the truth, I'm not all that surprised," I said. "After all, she did have my grandmother's pendant." I wondered whether or not I should SHOW this "Mrs. W" that we were who we said we were.

The easiest way to for me do that would be by shifting, but I didn't think that would help. No Mundane Earther would want her children traveling with wargs, right? Yet she had just insulted my friends and me, and I wasn't about to let her get away with it.

"Mrs. Wilson, you WILL be respectful. My advisor, Lady Starlight, and I are certainly not insane. Nor am I a child. In fact, I'm older than you are."

Just as my aunt Losillewen used to do, I drew myself up to my full height, which is a bit over six feet tall, and looked Mrs. Wilson straight in the eyes. I knew full well that no one who looked me in the eyes could ever think of me as a child again.

While the youngest among the Kin, I was still much older than I looked. Right now, I was letting my age show. If this didn't convince her, she wasn't a true Writewraith. To disbelieve your eyes, when they've shown no sign of being untrustworthy before, is not only unimaginative, but illogical as well.

[Fred Baggins]

Her eyes quivered, I saw it, and almost felt the fear, the disbelife that surrounded her. "This cannot be. But surly I'm not dreaming. I have fallen into my dreams. A child ages in seconds. No, not a child, an elf!" Insainity shone wild in her eyes "Not MY storys, Tolkeins himself! I have strayed into the dreams of the greatest author dremt of, the greatest of all time! A child who is really an elf, and rules a kingdom."

The oddest thing happened then. Dawn pulled herself away from her mother, wrinkling her nose as though she smelled a rotten egg. She began crying, and biting at her mother. I dismounted, and took her away from Mrs. W, and she stopped biting though she buried her nose in my clothes, and refused to look at her mother.

"And now you take my baby from me. Are you an elf to Faith? No, you at least are not." She turned to Calien, falling to her knees. "Empress, I implore of you, I do not belong here! An adult from...from home cannot come this world and survive! Please Empress spare me! Spare me from the death I deserve! My baby, she needs to go home. Look at her eyes! Her eyes Faith! They glow yellow like your wolves there! Or is he a warg? Her eyes Faith, let me take her back, please Empress, send me back!"

Dawn began crying hard, and rubbing her nose as though trying to get the smell out. I looked at her eyes, and they where yellow, gold really. I felt a shudder run through me, and gasped. I looked back at Mrs. Wilson, she was going insane. Her eyes where wild, and she tore, litterally TORE at her hair! Screaming, for Calien to send her back. Then she was gone. Up off her knees, and running out of the forest. I saw Hunter turn to follow her, and without thinking told him not to. "Do not follow her. There is nothing we can do for her. She will most likely...most likely...die, before you found her again...anyway." I started to cry, and this time buried my own face in Dawn's clothes. Mrs. W had been a good freind of mine. She didn't deserve what she would receive.

Dawn on the other hand, was immediatly back to her-self, which I found quite odd. She clung to me, laughing, and singing, and it seemed as though she hadn't noticed that anything happened. And her eyes where brown.

I unsteadly remounted, with Dawn in my arms, and said under my breath, "Looks like I have a new job...on top of it all..." I shook my head, and apologized to Hunter, and Calien, for ordering what should have been her command. Then we started moving again, and I put my..."Happy Face" on.

"The wind never lies. I, of course, find it absurd. You know she was born on Earth. Home. But if you find no trouble with it, then nither do I. After all, if I'm to be your advisor, I might as well start trying to act a little more like it."

[zavron]

ooc: I haven't been able to keep up with this story much, so can anyone tell me what's happened? The last time I was her, I had collapsed and needed Ent-Draught.

[Silverstripe]

a few tears came to my eyes. I hadn't known Mrs. Wilson, but she had to have been a good person for Faith to have befriended her. I would have been willing to send her back, but Faith was right -- she'd be dead by the time we got to her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. Most Mundane Earthers, even adults, aren't like this, Faith. It simply isn't TRUE that the adults of your world can't survive in this world!" I was gesturing so emphatically I nearly fell off of Anmara. "Believe me, I know. It might take awhile to convince them, but eventually they understand, and accept, where they are and who we are. A writer, especially."


ooc: Hmmm ... Zavron, I don't think you're in the story at the moment, but PM me and I'll try to get you back in.

[Fred Baggins]

ooc: Zavron you died. I killed you. J/k!

ic: "Just forget it., I don't want to hear it. She wasn't supposed to be, here, just like me. It's just that with her, it dorver her to the point of insanity. that hasn't happened to me...yet. Unless you count the..." I shrugged, and put my hand in my pocket to tougch the dagger, hoping she would understand what I meant. Dawn had a smile on her face. She couldn't understand what had just happened, but..."She seems almost happy her mother is..." I left the sentance unfinished again.

[Lubyla]

"Illali, what do you think they are talking about up there?"

'Dont ask me, I dont read lips'

"Great your some help." I turned and started singing a stupid song...

Ophelia drowned in the water...crushed by her own wieght.....We've made, Places for hatred its time to make a place where, people's souls may be seen and made safe...These fragile flames...

[Fred Baggins]

I heard a glimps of what Star was singing and nodded to Calien. "You gonna invite her up then?"

[Silverstripe]

"Of course! All the Writewraiths, actually." I yelled to Star and the other Writewraiths to come and join us. And then an arrow came flying towards me from out of the castle...

[Fred Baggins]

"WHAT THE FEEBER JEEBER!" I yelled, seeing the arrow flying at Kathie. I drew my sword, and ran forward, swinging at it, before it could reach her. I glanced back a Calien. Not even inside the walls yet, and they didn't belive it was her...course I don't know how an elf can chage, so that they don't recognize her, over a few months. It HAD some from the castle direction.

"Something is very wrong." Dawn wrinkled her nose again. I wondered if she had changed when she came to. Maybe she became Kin or something, and her smell strengthed or something...

[Lubyla]

I heard Calien shout for us to join. I started forward, as an arrow wized past me, as a reflex, I caught it in mid-air.

"Great, now I have an arrow, but no bow."



'Hah, you think I'm that stupid to forget? You just didn't see it when you opened the pack.'Illali tossed the bow up to me. It was the one I found in my "Place."

I quickly fitted the bow, and shot at whatever had shot at us. "Illali, have you no arrows?"

'Hah, I dont, but Lubyla left a quiver for you. She said you would need them before the end.'

I picked up the quiver, and slung it on my back. Still on Rainstorm, I rode up tp Faith and Calien. Fitting my bow, I took aim. " Where shall I shoot?"

[Fred Baggins]

I now saw where the arrow had come from. I had dropped my sword, when I blocked the first arrow, and now pulled the dagger out of my pocket, the first time it had seen light since I had gotten it back from Calien. Shoving Dawn to Star, I rushed at the...it was a woman!...shouting at Calien, dagger in hand. "HOW DARE you attempt to harm the Empress!"

"Faith, NO!" I heard Calien exclaim behind me, but it was to late. the woman dodged away from me, but not before i managed to put quite a dent in her shoulder.

[Silverstripe]

I smiled as I saw who came rushing out of the castle: my cousin Ailin. In her mind messages to me, she apologized profusely, explaining that she hadn't known who I was, and was simply being wary. She shouted greetings to me and the rest of the company, and I ran joyously to meet her.

But my joy quickly turned to horror as Faith came running over screaming, "HOW DARE you attempt to harm the Empress!"

"Faith, NO! You don't understand! That's Ailin, my cousin ... she didn't recognize me at first! I talked to her about it!"

But Faith didn't listen to me; she didn't even seem to hear all of what I said. She lunged at Ailin, wounding my cousin's shoulder. What's more, Faith showed no signs of stopping her mad attack. It was almost as if she couldn't stop herself, as if a battle-rage had made her blind to all else.

The fear showed plainly on Ailin's face. She was a wonderful archer, but not so good at swordfighting, or defending herself against an attack with a sword or dagger. If this went on, Faith might very well kill her!

"Faith, no!" I screamed again. Before she could do any further damage to my cousin, I reached up, grabbed Faith's dagger by its blade, and tried to wrest it from her grasp.

[Fred Baggins]

I felt rage fly through every part of my being, the minuet Calien tried to take the dagger. I didn't shout, I didn't scream, I just held on to the dagger, and glared, yelling at her in a voice so low, and calm, only she could hear it.

"Do NOT take my dagger from me. Release the dagger, or...or die yourself."

I certantly didn't occure to me, that after screaming that I would defend Calein, I now threatened her. All I could think of was getting her grubby little greedy hands of the Wargs Bane. I saw her getting ready to put a freezing spell on me, I'd learned how to recognize when she was getting ready to use her...magic, if that was what it was.

"And don't try your tricks on me. It will not work, not as long as I still have the Wargs Bane." I named it out loud. The name that had always been in the back of my head for that dagger, but which I refused to call it. I renched the dagger from her, and as she grabbed for it again, plunged it into her heart. As she fell down, silence covered everything.

" Illuvitar..." I mumbled staring down, at what I had done. "What's wrong with me?" I looked at the bloody dagger, "Wargs Bane..." and down at the Empress. I couldn't see her anymore. My eyes where to blury from tears. I have to get away from here. What am I doing here!? I just killed...I gotta get out! I picked up my sword, and jumped back on Wind Rider, not bothering to sheath the dagger, and turned WR out of there, kicking her in the ribs, so she ran out of there as fast as her legs would carry her. I didn't see Dawn pointing down at my staff, lyaing...or rather floating above the ground, nor did I see Star pick it up...there's a lot I didn't see.

[Silverstripe]

As Faith stabbed me through the heart, and I fell to the ground in pain, the last thing I thought was

Faith ... kill me... the wind was right!

Then darkness filled my world, and I knew no more.
I don't remember how long I was unconsious. All I can remember is being inside a sort of cavern, with Terwell calling to me, desperately trying to get me to return.

Return? Return where? I thought, struggling to remember. Middle Earth. I did not want to go back to a world of sorrow and pain. I wanted to continue to my true destination.


<Calien! Your people need you. I need you, my Link-twin. Come back to us,> pleaded Terwell.

As I heard Terwell's plea, I knew he was right. I struggled to regain conciousness. I couldn't die while Terwell lived, but I could go into a coma, allowing evil to creep over the kingdom. This could not be! Three times I ordered my eyes to open; three times they refused to obey my command.

"OPEN!" I screamed aloud ... and suddenly my eyes did snap open, and I saw Ailin, Hunter, and "Adrian's group," looking down at me anxiously. Faith, Star, Dawn, and Mauluk were gone.

I wept for all of them, especially Faith, for I knew she would not be returning for a long time now. And I knew, somehow, that if she ever did come back, it would not be as a friend.

[Fred Baggins]

What have I done?! I would die before Calein, before my Empress, my friend, my companion. And yet...I just killed her. With Wargs Bane. Wargs Bane, what did that mean? What does any of this mean? Two days ago, the most important thing to me, was finishing my fanfic. Now, it's running from Hunter, or whoever will want to kill me now. They all will most likely. Eru, I don't want to die, I didn't want Calien to die! As thoughts like this ran through my head, I missed the sound of hoofclops behind me. Until I heard the, "IGGIE-BAY!" I kicked WR harder, trying to get away from them, whoever was behind me.

[Silverstripe]

Hunter growled, 'Where is the traitor Faith? I'm going to kill her!'

"No! Hunter, she is gone now, and I still live. I ... must not be too quick to deal out death and judgement," I said, using a well-known phrase that many people from either world would recognize.

"The Writewraith Faith Lowe was a true and loyal friend to me, until that stupid Warg's Bane drove her mad. She is -- almost a SLAVE to that dagger. That is how she will live from this day forth, perhaps thinking she is free, but a slave in reality, and she will come to know it, sooner or later. So her life will be punishment enough. Faith Lowe's only comfort now is that wherever she roams, Starlight Adams and little Dawn shall be with her. But don't worry, I know for certain that Faith will not harm either of them." I paused, tears on my cheeks, then continued,

"I only wish that I could follow Faith, as a friend; to be a companion and a protector, perhaps to find a way to free her from this curse. But that can never be. I am, above all and until death, a Writewraith, and I will try to do what is best for the kingdom. No matter what."


Ailin smiled. "Then you are our true Empress, cousin. Come, all of you, come inside the castle -- come see your new home!

[Lubyla]

I followed Faith, I did not know why, the wind pushed me to. I wasa not in control. I heard the scream of a bird. twas not Andodulin, for it was more of a song the bird sang. It flew over my head, a white bird, with silver wing tips. It flew to the castle.

The clipclop of Ithilsila's hooves were heard, though when they came to the castle, to Calien and the rest, it was not Lubyla atop, it twas Andodulin, in his elf form, head bowed, he trotted to the empress.Lubyla was no where to be seen, which struck curiosity in Calien.

[Silverstripe]

"Andodulin. Why isn't Lubyla with you? Is something wrong?"

[Lubyla]

He sighed. "Lubyla hath fallen. It was a trap to bring her there. It was all planned, and there is nothing to do for her, for there is nothing that can be done, she hath fallen, and shall stay that way. What has happened here? I shall stay with you, for that was her request." The white bird sat in the near tree. It made a loud screatch.

[Silverstripe]

"Nothing can be done for her?!" I asked, a bit angrily. "And how, exactly, did Lubyla fall?" Of course, I was suspicious of Andodulin; how could I not be? But whether Andodulin had anything to do with it or not, I needed to know what had happened to my friend.

[Lubyla]

Andodulin heard the bird, and looked over to it." Twas that wretched bird who hath killed Lubyla the Fair, Princess of the elves, child of the stars." The bird heard this, and anger grew in it's eyes. With one loud shriek, it attacked Andodulin. "And now it is I it is after, and I fear you are next,fair Calien, Empress of the Writewraiths." He smacked the bird with his hand, and it fell. He turned his back, as the bird screached, seeming to say,'ANDODULIN!!!!!!' It flew onto the shoulder of Calien, and rested there, for the time being.

[Fred Baggins]

I kept running, I felt Star on my tale. "Leave me be!" I shouted. "LEAVE ME! I was not in my right mind. Go back to your dead Empress! I leave now!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~About a month or so later

I ran up to the castle. Tried to get it, but they wouldn't let me. "I have to get in!" I exclaimed. "I have to talk to the Empress, I have a letter that MUST get to her!" I'm Freddy, the hobbit that Fran is always dodging. But i had recently been to talk with Faith, and now had something to deliver to the Empress. A letter from her. The gaurds let me in at last, and led me to the Empress. I knelt before her, and offered her the letter. She took it, and I saw her stearing at the seal. I wondered if she would remember it after all. Faith had said she might, but didn't sound to sure. I knew it by heart, I had often stared at it, on nights, wondering what it meant. Likely nothing, but with Faith I could never be sure. Three circles, connected, in a type of triangle, so that each sircle touched the other, with three grape vines, one for each place the circles touched. And inside each circle was a wolf fang. She broke the seal and read it.

"Empress Calien,
I write this letter with sincerest apologies. I write with a sad grin, the grin because it has just reached me that you live after all, and sad because of what I have done, and am yet to do. I pray of you to forgive my wrong doings. I know I deserve death for what I did, and so will not reveal where I am. Nor will my messanger, he will be unable to, even if you torchered him. I long to be back in the Kingdom though, for there is the only place in ME that I feel halfway home.
Star and Dawn are with me, though I think you knew that. Star insisted on comeing, and i could not send Dawn back alone. I almost wish you, or anyone would come to take them far from me though, I might kill them.
Which brings me to my next item of topic. The Wargs Bane should have killed you and your cousin. I have discovered, it is poisened. I will not relay how I discovered this, for it is still to hard to think of what I have done. Back at home I would never have thought of doing half of what I do here. I must be going mad.
I do not think I will ever return, nor will I ever see you again, Empress. Again, I give my sincerest apologies,
(Here it looked like it had said Faith Lowe, but that was crossed out)
Countess Doncamiel the Blue
Wizard of the West
Keeper of Wargs Bane

*Once I noticed the Empress was done reading the letter, a couple times through, she waved to me to leave. I would not let it be so. "Empress, if you don't mind, things with Fran and I havn't been well of late...or ever...and I wish to give myself to your services, however you may use me."

[Silverstripe]

FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE EMPRESS CALIEN

I, Calien, write this entry about a month after the death of Lubyla and Faith Lowe's departure from the Kingdom of Writewraiths, the last events I wrote about in this journal, up to now.

I have been very busy since then, beginning to rebuild the kingdom. It is said a wave of Writewraiths will arrive here in five years, and we must be ready for them.

Hunter is busy gathering an army, and seems happy enough. The Kin have come to the Kingdom, the one place in all of Middle Earth where they are truly accepted. Some, like me, remain elven or human most of the time. Others are more like Hunter, whom I have still never seen in any form other than warg.

Princess Adrian and Lord Calliman are more in love than ever, which we expected; the funny thing is that Celrond appears to be falling for Grace now! It seems our kingdom will soon be filled up with lovebirds. I hope not; there has to be room for the rest of us, who seem much saner and more practical than the lovers.

My mother and father come to visit frequently, and sometimes even Losillewen comes to call. Those visits are very special. I'm learning much from my parents and my aunt, to their delight and mine. We also hear from my mother's brother the king, Ailin's father, once in a while. He's more likely to advise Ailin than me, but the council he does give me is wise, and shows his compassion for his people.

I'm more suspicious of advice from Andodulin. Yes, Andodulin is still here at the castle. I allowed him to come inside, despite my initial reluctance. I didn't believe him when he told me the bird had killed Lubyla. I thought, rather, that this bird had been sent by Lubyla to protect me and my fellow Writewraiths ... perhaps from Andodulin himself!

But Andodulin has done nothing to harm any of us yet, though I still keep a wary eye on him, and am glad that the bird never strays far from my side. I fear that Andodulin may betray me some day, as I believe he has done to Lubyla.

I received a letter from poor Faith Lowe today. No, not from Faith, from the "Countess Doncamiel the Blue." Unfortunately, I am now very aware of the difference between them.

The letter told of how she heard news that I was alive after all, and she said that she was sorry for hurting me. She has become a slave to the Warg's Bane, just as I foretold.

Faith/Doncamiel is still accompanied by Starlight and Dawn. I am happy to know she is not alone, but filled with fear for Star and the child.

I have forgiven Faith and want her to come back, but that can never be. She will not tell me where she is, and I can send no reply. Anyway, she is right when she says she brings danger to those around her, and I cannot expose my fellow Writewraiths to such danger, however much I want my friend back. And she is not the same person she was when she left.

Her messenger, Freddy (yes, Fredigar Burrows) has asked to serve here in the Kingdom of Writewraiths. Of course, I have granted his request; he is a friend of Faith's (in a way) and thus a friend of mine.

Now that it is safe for him to do so, Terwell has returned, escorted back by two of my old friends, Primrose Brandybuck and her companion the red fox Cyrell.

They could not stay for long, but we were having a feast when they came back, so of course Primrose, being a hobbit, could not resist lingering awhile, to eat all the good things our new cook had prepared! That was a merry day, and yet there is a touch of sadness in my heart that will not go away.

Perhaps it will always be there, as old friends depart from us and new friends join us here in the kingdom. Yet as the kingdom is rebuilt, I know there is one more thing that will never leave me entirely, and that is hope.

With a heavy but hopeful heart, I am,

Calien, Empress of the Writewraiths


THE END

[Silverstripe]

Watch for Writewraiths in Middle Earth II, coming soon!