27 | Unexpected Teamups

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Andrea Barnard | Doctor of Psychology

Location: Illyria and Maedhros' House, Oxford, UK, Earth

Time: August 2027

It's not every day you meet an elf.

And it's not every day you can tell someone that you ran over 'said elf' by a car.

(Technically it was Elliot Madden but considering she witnessed it on the passenger's seat she had every right to be involved.)

This day just had to get even crazier, finding that very face that appeared in her dreams since she could remember, staring back up at her in disbelief and haziness. Well of course: considering he was the very elf they literally bumped into and apparently somehow wasn't unconscious. An elf who obviously didn't know anything to do with vehicles and roads and anything remotely of this world.

Oh, what the heck was she saying?

How was he here?

How was this all possible?

Every second as she and Elliot (or maybe Elros? She wasn't sure what he preferred) plucked the blonde elf off the road and into the back of Elliot's car, Andrea Barnard's mind was reeling again and again.

He called her Andreth.

And there was only one Andreth she knew in The Silmarillion that a certain blonde elf would know.

She had to shove everything that was bombarding her head at the rest of the journey, letting the sound of the engine and the mutterings of Elliot's voice drown the noise as they continued their journey towards Maedhros and Illyria's house.

The world outside blurred into an array of swirling colours, and from time to time noticing the gaze of the elf through the side mirrors. Throughout it all, Andrea was lost in limbo – unsure how to take it all in.

How Elliot Madden was so calm and yet still functioning enough to drive (safely now) baffled her.

Not only that, but he was also shooting questions as he eyed their not-so-subtle elf in the rearview mirror. Oh yes, it was very casual to just pick an elf off the street from time to time. Very normal indeed. Though, it did give some ease in her breathing (somewhat) as they spoke back and forth on where he came from and why he was wandering about.

Apparently, the blonde elf came from Dr Finneas Cuthbert – or Fëanor – after being forced to leave as the secret police (government) took not only the elder Noldo but also another person from the school department. Someone called Madoc apparently. (The name seemed familiar but she couldn't think of it from the tip of her tongue) Fëanor insisted for him to leave, to find someone called Andrea Barnard who would turn up soon. But as he waited and wandered, he couldn't seem to find them.

Well: guess they found him eventually.

Even if it meant literally bumping into him.

Or maybe more than just a bump...

Anyhow.

Andrea's fingers gripped tightly around her bag, pulsing as she tried to take some deeper breaths by the time they parked just adjacent to their destination. She was shocked herself that she was still able to get out of the car and decide to take the elf out (who looked a little pale). Even with his protests, she simply peered up at him and told him that she would keep hold of him until he could sit down. There was a small cut on his forehead, probably from how he fell.

When they arrived at Maedhros and Illyria's front door, Elliot Madden rang the doorbell.

After a minute: no one answered.

Andrea frowned, furrowing her eyebrows.

Where were they?

As she adjusted her stance, she couldn't help but glance warily at her side – noticing how close they were. She suddenly felt a shiver down her spine, uncertain if was the heat of the weather or the coldness which grew. Her breathing hitched slightly, a little concern at how still the elf was after just getting run over. Not only that, but it also almost felt like her chest was heaving and pulsing, trying to tug away and tear out a layer she hadn't known existed.

A layer of familiarity she wasn't sure if it was hers.

But it shocked Andrea. How the cut didn't even look so vital or how he simply looked so calm.

And that was where she eyed him, catching his gaze that made her stomach lurch again.

Andrea murmured, looking away as she exhaled: "You elves are made out of something else."

What she didn't expect was him replying simply but not understanding the sarcasm in her tone, "We heal quicker than your kind."

The innocent tone made her twitch her lips, turning her head back up.

She stared up at him and corrected, "Humans. We're called humans here."

The blonde elf nodded quietly, pausing as he eyed the back of Elliot's head. His eyes somewhat narrowed, lips pursed before there was then a rapturing noise. Turns out even looking at the window, curtains still drawn shut, no one seemed to be in.

And in a sudden fracture, Elliot Madden disappeared in front of them. Andrea's eyes darted left and right, finally finding a speck of dark hair around the corner of the semi-detached house and realised that there was a gate towards the garden. When Elliot shouted for them, she inhaled a shallow breath before heaving her arm around the elf's waist.

"It is alright, my lady." His voice made her pause and her eyes automatically rose up to his.

Andrea's stomach churned again and she wasn't sure again if the pain was just her or in her head.

The elf's face softened as he spoke, "My lady, I am happy enough to walk and stand."

"I...I mean I know," She heard herself respond, clearing her throat immediately afterwards before she added, "I'm just, just worried that's all. But I'm fine."

The blonde elven man frowned.

"Your hands are shaking."

When she looked quickly downwards, she pulled her hands away and stepped back. A small ounce of regret knocked at her chest, making her breath short before Andrea looked back and tried to compose herself.

It was there he said, "Are you hurt?"

And in response: Andrea couldn't help but bark out a short laugh.

By the gods, what was happening? How did this day turn into this? And why wasn't she freaking out harder than she thought?

Also, this elven man just got hit by a car to which they drove and he's the one asking if she's okay?

Alright, perhaps that did make her heart warm up and her cheeks slightly pink. But it might be the heat anyways as they then began to walk around to where Elliot went. The elven man followed, curious at how small the pathway was towards the garden gate.

As they did, Andrea did quietly say to him, "It's just this day's been so...different for me." She looked over her shoulder before they continued, "And I want to say that I am sorry."

There she said it.

When she stopped to wait for him to catch up, he too paused to glance at her. His eyes seemed to almost dim even in such daylight and Andrea's heart clenched for some reason of it.

He breathed in, his shoulders slumping as he spoke solemnly, "No, it is perfectly understandable my lady." He paused, obvious that he was trying to think of how to say it: "You...you have a life here. You are a new person who bears a resemblance to someone I once knew."

Those words jabbed at her heart, her body almost freezing as she stared.

A faint voice in her mind echoed in her. A memory that almost seemed so similar to this. Had they shared the same sort of conversation already? If they did, how did it end up then?

After a few seconds of silence, Andrea shuddered out a breath before she spoke, "You don't need to apologise." Her voice regained its confidence as she continued, "Why don't we start again. Introduce ourselves?"

The proposal made the elven man's face morph into a less guilty look, showing a somewhat softened smile as he placed his hand on his chest. With a short nod, he spoke, "Well met. I am Aegnor Arafinwion."

Andrea's lips twitched as she replied, "I'm glad to meet you, Aegnor. My name's Andrea Barnard."

"Andrea Barnard," His eyes almost lit up there, his smile growing before he hummed. "It is also an honour to meet you as well."

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When introductions were over, they found that Elliot picked the lock from the top, entering the fairly large garden.

The first thing she wondered was how the hedges seemed a little more trimmed than most. (Andrea vaguely recalled Maedhros and Illyria training from time to time but never expected it to be in their back garden). With that out of the way, Andrea looked towards the back of the house, seeing a window which overlooked the wooden deck and patio. From the looks of it, the kitchen was fairly empty...but to their shock, it was almost as if it was trashed.

Someone else either was inside or they already left.

She and Elliot gave each other a look before he quietly told her and Aegnor to stay quiet. He then crept towards the door, taking what seemed to be a Swiss knife. Technically she hadn't known Elliot for long, but even giving a glimpse of the man he was far from the man she would suspect to know how to lockpick a door.

But after a few minutes and a door open as a result: Andrea gave him an impressed look.

Elliot simply shrugged and noted that he had a terrible habit of watching random videos on YouTube...which was fair enough. Even she picked up some random tricks from perusing the internet. Such as learning how to decorate her house to simply how to do her laces in a fancy pattern.

Once they entered the house, the three of them kept cautious (to which both the men decided irritatingly to go in front) and looked around the kitchen and then the living room.

No words could describe how the state the house was in.

"God this is a fucking tip."

Well put, Elliot Madden.

As they wandered about, he also noted aloud, "They made a mess looking for shit here."

Once they stood inside what appeared to be Illyria Strange's room, Andrea couldn't help but feel her heart pacing faster than before. Drawers were pulled out, papers and folders thrown across the room and boxes turned over. There were books off the shelves as well as posters and papers ripped from the walls.

Whoever they were – now slowly believing that it was the same people who took Fëanor – they either found it or they haven't by the state of this place.

And for her, so many questions were driving around her head, with one more significant than the rest.

"What were they looking for?" Andrea questioned, mostly to herself but both Aegnor and Elliot turned to her with both the same concerned and suspicious expressions.

Elliot sucked in a breath and whistled, picking up what seemed to be a broken picture frame. From her view, she could see a resemblance between both the blonde sorceress and the redheaded elf along with a dark-haired woman who must have been Darcy Lewis.

He then muttered out, "Well whatever it was, we won't know if they found it or not." Elliot's eyes darted across towards the small landing, hearing the drips of the sink from the bathroom. "At least it doesn't look like there was a fight."

Which meant they weren't here then, and thankfully unharmed.

Hopefully.

When they then headed down to the living room, Andrea suggested for Aegnor to sit down before he could collapse. The blonde elf protested, assuring them that he was fine and that he didn't need rest. Though when Andrea gave him a sharp look, he paused and hesitated before finally conceding to sit for a moment.

Right, well at least there was a thing about Maedhros' extended family and that was they were all stubborn. Though despite not being overly stubborn, Aegnor wasn't too restricting. He was quiet and reserved, his eyes looking around rather than acting agitating. Andrea noticed how he flexed his hands on his knees, looking at the photos (he must be baffled at everything around here) around the wall as well as the television in curiosity.

Andrea swapped between looking at her phone and looking at the window. Maybe it was her nerves growing, but the longer they were here she felt that something was bound to happen. That maybe whatever or whoever came here could return and find whatever they wanted. That Fëanor could be in danger.

Should she call Illyria's parents? She only had Darcy Lewis' number but even she didn't respond to her calls.

As the silence was slowly deafening her ears, that was when a knock erupted.

Her eyes along with Elliot's and Aegnor's immediately turned to the front door and both Elliot and Aegnor were already at her heels. She eyed them, a sense of flair in her chest as Aegnor's arm stopped her behind.

"Stay behind me," Aegnor murmured quietly.

Andrea looked at the door before she narrowed her gaze up to the elf. Right, it was understandable he still thought of her of who she might be but she was perfectly capable of defending herself and keeping suspicious. Who knows who might be behind that door?

And in the middle of Oxford during the day: obviously nothing who would attempt to kill them right at the spot.

With a cool and calm voice, Andrea commented, "No, I'll go." She looked at both Elliot and Aegnor and pointed bluntly, "No offence to you two: you look like you might beat someone up."

It took one last deep look before Aegnor lowered his arm and both he and Elliot stood back far from the door. She gestured for Aegnor to stay back a little more, knowing that if it was a neighbour they were not going to scare them with a tall elf with a sword at their hip.

Once Andrea opened the door with as much stillness with her hand: they were met with a young man.

A familiar young man to be precise.

With his face lit up with a smile, he waved: "Hey Illyr—"

The young man quickly stopped, his demeanour flashing quickly into suspicion as he blurted out, "Wait, you aren't Illyria."

Andrea's own mind suddenly recognized who this was and she could help but be shocked...even if she shouldn't really be. Because if she knew who Illyria and Maedhros were she should know that these two superheroes would be close to one of the most known ones to date.

"No. But I know you," She responded neutrally before she asked, "You're Peter Parker, right?"

The American nodded slowly, but still kept his distance from her as he looked past her head. He then narrowed his eyes and questioned, "Where's Illyria? And why are you in her house?"

Ah...well that might be harder to explain to him.

Especially to a young man who could easily take two of them down. (She was more worried if Aegnor tried to hurt Spiderman but then again she had to try and make him trust them.)

All Andrea could do was explain honestly to him what they knew, "She's away. Off-world by the text I got. And Maedhros is...in space? Greece? He hasn't updated where he is. And Finneas Cuthbert is in London. Some secret government men took him away for some reason."

"How do I know I can trust you?" Peter Parker folded his arms across his chest before he nudged his chin, "Or you're not some alien pretending to be someone else."

Well, at least he was sensible.

Andrea breathed in, ready to go on some lengthy response.

But then Elliot nudged his thumb to his side and questioned, "Is the glowing elf good enough for you?"

Peter Parker then crossed his gaze towards the elf that now looked directly down. After a few seconds, he then shrugged and replied, "Good enough."

All she could do was raise a brow in surprise.

Elliot blurted out, "Wait, what?"

"Skrulls can't imitate elves. Illyria told me they can't glow as they do," Peter Parker explained. Huh, that was something she didn't know. And considering the growing threats of these aliens appearing on Earth, Andrea and possibly Elliot were aware that there was some secret war going on between them and another set of alien species. [1]

Nothing to which she knew in detail but the news often picked it up, hence why there was the so-called New Accords being placed which was a massive controversy recently.

Giving Elliot a look, Andrea slowly spoke, "Huh...that's something."

"Plus I can tell. Some sort of thing I have," Peter Parker gestured to himself before his expression changed and his tone made her snap back into the conversation. "Anyways, I went here because I have this. The translations she wanted."

She didn't even need to eye both Aegnor and Elliot that all three of them were as clueless as they were before as she asked, "Translations for what?"

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When Elliot Madden said there was a secret workshop lodged between the fabric of space within their house – he was not joking. And that was why they found themselves opening a secret door that looked too small for any elf to fit in, realizing it enlarged when Elliot's hand touched the doorknob.

Andrea glanced sideways at Peter; the young man's mouth parted in awe before they headed inside.

When they did enter, she had to admit it was amazing to see what was inside.

Thinking it was some simple garden shed-style of the workshop: it was an entire room filled with things that exuberated what Maedhros was like.

But enough perusing, Andrea split the four of them up around the room and try and find something that could be a reason as to why these people took Finneas Cuthbert away. And that may be with a book that sounded a little too jarring to comprehend. How could a book be so important anyway?

It didn't help that whenever she looked, it would seem the elf in the room was constantly glancing back at her. Almost as if he didn't believe she was here. In truth, she was still unsure how to feel about it. Her mind was jumbled, wondering why this was happening to her. Out of the eight billion people on this planet, it had to be her?

Just as she was filing through some cabinet drawers that appeared to be piles of drawings and blueprints, Andrea paused as she took out the last layer.

Down at the bottom of the drawer was an antique wooden box.

She didn't do much on it, but the moment she took it in her hand and placed it onto the workbench it immediately lit up. Andrea yelped internally, her fingers retracting as she saw the grooves glow in a golden hue before there was a click.

With her eyes looking around at the three, she then reached out to take off the lid, only to find what seemed to be a book.

A book that looked to be as old as the box itself or maybe even a little younger.

But once she carefully took it out and opened it to the first page, Andrea was met with dry ink written in a language she had never seen. It appeared to almost be like an alphabet, with dots on some parts before she turned the page again and the words quickly changed into something different. Sharper and simpler.

Andrea assumed these must be the languages from Illyria and Maedhros' world, but which ones: she wasn't entirely sure.

Though as she continued to go over them, she noticed that both Elliot and Aegnor already leaned over, with the former taking her place as he filed through the pages.

Elliot stared blankly down at the page, "These are predictions."

"For what?" Andrea looked up at the man.

He then paused before he responded simply, "Dagor Dagorath."

'Dagor Dagorath...' She trailed in her head, wondering where she heard of that name before.

Though as Andrea tried to go through her mind, she was snapped quickly into reality as the young man who joined them butted in with shock.

"Woah? Like the end of the world?" Peter Parker gaped, rushing to take whatever was in his pocket only for her to realise they were pages. Photocopies with scribbles already on them.

Peter laid them out, noticing then that half of the writing was similar to Illyria's (Andrea could recall the number of times the young woman's writing was surprisingly neat despite how rushed it was) whilst the other was perhaps either Peter's or someone else's.

Then curiosity got to her, her eyes lurking towards the translations that were already made.

To her shock, none of the words even made entire sense.

Elliot seemed to have recognized her own confusion, stating that: "Yeah. Illyria explained to me that they were all jumbled up. Some sort of code or cypher which the Tolkiens wrote." He raked a hand through his hair as he muttered, "Jesus, even I can't read even half of these and some of these I hardly know the alphabet for them. The hardest would be translating the Valarin."

When he mentioned that name, she creased her brows only to be met with a page that was literally circles and lines all drawn in ink. A page of this supposed language could be artwork by itself.

Pursing her lips, Andrea kept her gaze down upon the page as she wondered, "Why do you think it's important? Surely everyone knows through the books and lore right?"

"Because not even the Valar know what happens."

Her head rose, turning to Aegnor with a concerned expression only to be met by his own who appeared as if he didn't want to be here right now.

Andrea echoed, "What?"

Thinning his lips, he stared blankly at the book before he closed his eyes and breathed in.

"Namo...Mandos...he spoke of the prophecy. It is known to all Eldar but it was vague. It is said it was supposed to happen in the next several ages but our cycle has been accelerated. But it says only one knows the truth and the details. Who it will be a part of the Song and why it must be this way."

Not even a penny dropped and she could sense the silence filling the room.

Until her heart skipped and the breath which she held left in a staggering huff whilst she unclenched her hands upon the edge of the table.

With another inhale, she never left his gaze as she questioned, "And how do you know this, Aegnor?"

She could already tell that both Parker and Elliot diverted their attention to the blonde elf, with one looking confused and shocked whilst the other seemed to grow more agitated. No: mad.

Yet Aegnor stood his ground, squaring his shoulders as he answered: "I cannot tell you."

Elliot hissed, "You have got to be shi—"

"I will betray my family if I do!" Aegnor appeared to be trying not to express anything, but Andrea could tell it was failing. The anguish and guilt already slipping out as his hands were flexing steadily at his sides.

But Andrea stood there, still processing everything that's happened.

Whatever this was, what Maedhros said. Everything was coming alive. The end of their world was happening and somehow people have been hiding secrets. And Aegnor was one of them who knew the truth of what the Valar were doing.

Aegnor knew the truth.

Her head grew cloudy, spinning around as she heard the muffled voice of Elliot looking almost as if he wanted nothing more but to throttle the elf.

"This is about millions of lives! You can't just protect one family and not an entire race! Lives that should deserve to exist!" Elliot growled, his voice lowering as he took a step forward at him.

Aegnor to his defence, quickly straightened himself: peering down at the man up until Andrea realised what was happening and rushed between the two of them.

With a hand on his shoulder, Andrea stopped Elliot by her touch and stared at him sternly, "Hey. Elliot, it's not his fault. It is no one's here." Andrea hadn't meant it, but she glared at each of them despite the painful expression Aegnor wore.

At that moment there was a fraction of regret, but she pushed it aside. She wasn't going to put her feelings and thoughts about this. Right now there were more important – world-threatening – things to worry about.

Shaking her head, she took her arm back and moved away, thankfully with Parker's help by moving the book back into the box, "And it doesn't matter anyway. This book must have been what they were looking for and since they couldn't find it, I assume they thought Finneas would know its details and took him. Maybe ask where the whereabouts of the book was."

Elliot seemed to calm down, but he didn't stop giving Aegnor a wary glance back between him and the book as he answered, "That could only mean that they know about this book. Which could mean that either Illyria and Maedhros have been watched for months...or they somehow knew about it." He thinned his lips, tapping the workbench as he continued, "And if they did, they are either working for him...or someone who wants to take advantage of what's going on between Earth and Arda."

Her eyes stared up between the three of them.

'That fire monster in the park...' She remembered, a cold shiver erupting from her spine.

If that meant someone was here without either of the people she knew knowing about it...

"Wait if they knew, that means they've been on Earth longer than we thought then." Peter Parker concluded, the worry temper between the four of them suddenly now growing into concern. Maybe even fear. With a quick turn around, the young man began placing the translations in his bag whilst he dictated, "We need to leave then. This place is probably being watched. We also need to figure out who would know how to finish this. If this is really important, we need to know before they could get their hands on it and tell Illyria."

Crap, why hadn't they thought of this sooner? They had just broken into a place that was already broken into...now what were the chances of them finding them here again?

She could only hope they had the time.

However, the first thing Andrea knew that if they needed to figure this all out and possibly save a lot of time for those who really needed this: was one thing.

With her eyes glued back to the book, she searched the front cover before she lingered her gaze on her phone. Andrea then spoke, "I think I know someone who can decipher this."

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Aragorn | Heir of Gondor

Location: Edoras, Rohan, Middle Earth, Arda

Time: April 2981 T.A

Aragorn,

When you read this, I shall be on my way west to Gondor. I know you may not understand, and perhaps you may never will, but there are many things that not even an explanation could justify the choice I have made in this moment of time.

In all the people who lived upon this earth, I stumble upon a man who saw me for who I am and not of the rest who have tried to catch my eye in all my life. A man who I have never imagined falling so deeply in love with that I would go the ends of the world for. A poetic thing for that I would love something that would give me more love to the land he lives in.

That is why I am going. Because I love you and I love the people of this world. Arda will forever be my home and without it I think I could never be able to forgive myself for losing something so wondrous and beautiful.

But I must ask you one promise and that is you must not follow me. You cannot follow me to a place you cannot go for I am but the shining beacon that would endanger you. I learnt things; what I am and what this means for me and my family. And by this revelation, no words could describe how it would potentially send you to your death. And I cannot fathom how it would be if I lose you for my own selfishness.

This is my destiny, Aragorn. But you have your own path to create and follow; you have your own destiny to fulfil. But do not feel the burden of that destiny, only remember the reason for that. The people you love and will love.

It is not a goodbye. I shall always be with you in heart and soul.

Your love,

Arwen

Hearing the sound of crumpled parchment, Aragorn squeezed his eyes and inhaled sharply. His hand clenched whatever he just read, the words echoing too perfectly in the sound of her voice.

Her.

Arwen...

No words, not even thoughts, could comprehend how he felt. The moment he sensed that part of his soul grew cold as his eyes read every word upon the parchment of paper. It had been rolled up, tied by a singular ribbon she once worn upon her robes. The same handwriting, only to have splotches of running ink, knowing then she had been crying whilst she wrote it.

He could only hear his heart beating faster and stronger, tugging outwards as if it wanted to blast out of his chest in a mere moment. But as he exhaled with shuddering gasps, Aragorn finally fell.

Collapsing onto his knees: Aragorn allowed himself to let go.

Because he had broken his promise. Not to himself but to the ones he loved and respected the most. Dozens of times he relented, Aragorn did all he could to keep her safe and to stop the enemy from truly getting close to her.

However, deep down: he should have known. He should have known how this would all turn out. Aragorn understood the reasons for Arwen's actions but accepted them? How was it possible to accept something that would risk her life?

'I should have known...' He whispered inside his mind.

When he felt his eyes stinging, tears beginning to well up – hand reaching to grab what he had worn all this time.

The Elessar upon his chest was the only thing left that clung him to her.

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Frodo Baggins | The Ring Bearer

Location: Cirith Ungol, Mordor, Middle Earth, Arda

Time: April 2981 T.A

He wondered how long he could stand the stench of this place. Damp and foul, there was a lingering sensation that made his nose curl and his skin feel clammy and dirty. Despite travelling for months, with no time or place to bathe or at least wash his face, it felt as if entering these dark cavernous paths made it even worst for him.

Or perhaps it was the Ring that was making it worst.

It was getting heavier and heavier now. Almost as if he was having to lug an entire cart like some horse or mule, dragging it by his neck as they clambered up the mountainous path which hid them from the eyes of the enemy. Stairs that should never be considered as some as they followed Smeagol towards their destination.

Then everything seemed to fall apart.

Not everything. No.

But with Sam...maybe it was everything.

Now he was gone. He had been angry at him, telling the only one who had been there since the beginning to go home. To go back to the Shire even when both knew there might even be a Shire at the end of all of this. The world was starting to fall. Darkness was winning.

Only he had the chance to make this right. To stop one evil before it could help the next.

Gollum urged him to enter this black abyss, his eyes adjusting easily but he couldn't help but gag once more at the smell. As he walked warily through, he tried to recall again to himself that this was the only way. He had to get through.

With sting upon his hand, they slowly crept their way. The sudden tightness of the tunnels almost caused the way to even darken in his periphery, feeling the air almost grow stagnant and tight. He wanted to claw his way through, his heart racing quicker than ever before as he hunched himself and walked further through.

After a few seconds, he noticed that he was gone.

Gollum, no Smeagol, was gone.

Disappeared ahead into the tunnels, Frodo gulped back the bile rising from his throat as he continued. His ears were beginning to ring as the prickly sensation was going around his skin.

"Smeagol!" Frodo cried out for his only guide, head turning in a rush at every path he saw. "Smeagol!"

The longer he was there, it all began to grow confusing. This was far from the feeling of getting lost in the forests in The Shire. This was a chasm of an endless void, each path leading to nothing. As he continued to hear the drips of liquid and the echoing raspy voice of Smeagol: it was there it grew silent.

If only he stayed quiet hadn't a great and angered spider clawed at his chest.

Frodo shrieked before swiping up Sting and lashing all his might towards the foul creature. His breathing quickened so fast that his heart clenched tightly around his ribs, almost wanting to jump out hadn't he taken a breath and ran. He clawed through what seemed to be webs, trying his best not to gag again.

What he before saw were no mere objects of his imagination: but bones.

Bones of the prey this dark creature killed and ate.

When he tripped, Frodo almost felt lost until he rummaged through his pockets and remembered the gift, he was given by the Lady of Lothlorien. With the words spoken by Lady Galadriel, he thrust his fist up: holding the vial.

A blinding light pierced through the opening and the spider – Shelob – shrieked in agony.

Withering and backing away, Frodo's confidence turned slightly to anger as he held both sword and light and moved back. Shelob was forced to go into the shadows, perhaps to run from the light as he then raced outwards and scrambled away.

There he spotted the opening, a little dim light as he noticed the stairway towards the tower in the distance. His hope rose just as the adrenaline in his body dissipated, causing him to stagger forward. Frodo grabbed the nearest rockface, stomach churning in both hunger and sickness.

He clenched his eyes shut.

Only a small whimper left his mouth.

'I can't...' Frodo thought to himself. 'I cannot...'

Even he could not even approach Shelob on his own, how was he now to continue all the way to Mount Doom? Again, the doubt grew once more. Just as it did back when he first witnessed the dark lord: Sauron.

But back then he had Sam. Sam had been there. He had been the person who brought him back. His hope.

Now: his hope was gone.

Knees buckling, Frodo felt himself tumble forward...only to land what seemed to be in grass.

Grass?

He glanced upwards, only to look before the tall glowing figure.

Lady Galadriel stood before him, her face glowing in beauty in light as she smiled down at him.

In his head, her voice called out to him, "This task was appointed to you, Frodo of The Shire." Lady Galadriel spoke, "If you do not find a way. No one will."

Frodo let out a breath, seeing the confidence in her eyes. Confidence for him. And all he could think now was that he had to get up. He needed to.

As he reached his hand for hers, the elven lady gave a pull: finding himself once more staring at the tower he last saw. Back in the mountains of Mordor. The breath of light, small yet noticeable, made his body straighten and he inhaled once more.

Of all the things and people, he thought of then: only Sam was in his mind as he took another step towards his destination.

What Frodo Baggins wouldn't know was that there was a looming shadow crawling behind...only to pierce him in a few mere moments later. [2]

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[5] - Skrull non-canon fact: Around this time: Secret Wars would be happening I believe. Peter would know about them due to the threat between Kree and Skrulls. Skrulls have the ability to shapeshift completely into a person along with recent memories. But when they shift with elves (kinda a sort of easter egg/hint that a skrull posed as Maedhros or Illyria): their eyes can't glow like them because they don't have a fea like them.
[6] - Shelob's Lair Scene: I shortened it because I think we all know what happened. I also chose the movie's version because I cannot remember how that scene went in the books. I think the movies did a good interpretation of it and I always loved the short scene between Frodo and Galadriel. It shows that Galadriel was still fighting and helping, though mostly to encourage those because she knew this was better for the world and that elves had a different part to handle in this long and connected war.

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A/N: Writing the Andreth, Elros, Aegnor and Peter scene was so easy because it's just a bizarre group of people but somehow it sort of works? Idk you'll have to decide for me.

Poor Aragorn having to find out that Arwen left to fight. He probably feels like he might get killed if either Elrond or Illyria find out that he let her go to Sauron without a fight.

As for Frodo: still having that standard moment throughout the books/movies.

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Edited: 20/03/2023