Into That Good Night

We're Actually Very Lost

Dearest Readers,

I thank you all for continuing on with this story so far, as it indeed has been truly a long road until this point. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, as I have very much enjoyed writing it.

I have to admit- the end is my favorite moment so far.

XOXO Ally Layne.

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"This forest... whatever enchantment is on these waters is making sure that no other being can control it to their will."

I have felt this kind of restraint from a source of water before- but this wasn't the River Styx, and I wasn't in the Underworld. Whatever created this enchantment on the water and the forest around us is something that was not to be messed with.

Varis eyed the capsized boat warily. "So you can't control it?"

I shook my head. "Not this source of water, at least."

Bilbo let out a sigh, plopping down on the large rock behind him. "How will we get across, now?"

I looked away from the river and all it's repulsive glory. The water was dark and there were things floating in the current that I didn't want to think about.

This was a far cry from Imladris.

I wonder what makes these two Elven strongholds so different?

My eyes wandered up into the trees, where I noticed vines that were hanging awkwardly among the canopy. A few were even broken, the remains probably carried off somewhere downstream.

Is this...?

"No friggin way," I voiced, pointing up at the vines that were out of place so the others could see. "They swung on the vines like monkeys."

Varis let out a snort. "That is something I would pay to see."

"Unfortunately, they left us behind, so you weren't able to bear witness to it," Bilbo mumbled. "Or did we forget that they completely forgot about us once Gandalf rode off?"

I let out a sigh. "You're not wrong."

Varis placed her hands on her hips. "We all saw how affected they were by this forest. At this point, I'm surprised they even thought about using the vines to get across the river."

I pointed to her. "You're also not wrong"

"So how exactly are we going to get across?" Varis asked. "Vines are out of the question. There are too many broken ones now for us to make it, anyway."

I let out a laugh. "But I was hoping we could pretend to be monkeys and climb our way through the trees."

"You'd also be pretending to be like the Woodland Elves, but that's not the point," She corrected. "The point is-"

"We need to figure out how to get across, yeah, I know," I cut her off.

I eyed the surroundings, trying to wrack my brain for how we can solve this little conundrum of ours. I paused.

"Does it seem slightly muggy out here to you?"

Varis's eyebrows wrinkled. "Muggy?"

"Uh, it also could be known as humid?"

Bilbo immediately nodded. "The air is thick."

I felt a grin slowly ease onto my lips. "The air is thick with water, isn't it?"

Varis's eyes widened. "So much that it seems as though it will storm."

"Which means there is water in the air and if I just slow the molecules down a few notches..." Varis and Bilbo looked very confused at my words, which was understandable, so instead of explaining, I decided to show them what I meant. I turned back to the river where the boat had been left, abandoned. "Then I should be able to..."