Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 9: A Deadly Promise

Cathy's POV:

When I woke up, I was in my bed. For a moment, I thought that the thing that happened with Gandalf's staff was a dream, but then I saw Abby sitting at the end of my bed staring at Gandalf and Elrond who were whispering in the corner.

I tried to sit up, but was overcome by dizziness. Abby whipped her head around. "Cathy!" She jumped out and hovered over me.

"What happened?" I asked. My throat suddenly felt dry. As if reading my thoughts, Abby gave me a glass of water that sat on the nearby table.

Abby opened her mouth to answer, but Gandalf interrupted. "What do you remember?"

I answered after drinking my water. "I asked you if I could hold you staff. Then I remember this bright light and this feeling of... of... I don't know how to describe it." It felt like happiness, warmth, life, and so many other good things. It was pure euphoria. "When the light went away, I felt really weak and everything went black."

Gandalf looked at Elrond who looked just as confused. Abby turned to them. "What's going on? Was it just an accident? Or is it something else?"

Gandalf turned back to me. "Cathy, have you ever had anything strange happen to you since you arrived in Middle-Earth?"

"Not really, I mean unless-" I stopped as I remembered that night on the watchtower. I totally forgot about that night.

"Unless?" Elrond pushed.

I gulped. Should I tell them? They may help figure out what happened if I tell them. But I know that I'm going to get chewed out by Abby later for not telling her. I swallowed. "Well, I-I didn't tell you the entire truth about what happened at the watchtower when the Wraiths attacked." I explained to them about the power that appeared when the Wraith swung at me and blasted him away and the others calling a wizard. Then I told them about the Wraith hitting my in the shoulder and how it healed.

"You were cut by a Morgul blade?" Elrond asked in shock.

"Just a little," I pulled the collar of my shirt over to reveal the grey scar. "I didn't feel like I was turning into a Wraith like Frodo was. I thought that it just didn't affect me."

Gandalf and Elrond met each others gazes. I could practically see them telepathically talking to each other.

"We'll look more into this," Gandalf finally said. "You are to remain in bed until tomorrow. Whatever happened to you greatly weakened you, and you need rest."

I nodded, and the two wise men left, leaving Abby and I alone. Guilt began to consume me when I saw that she looked hurt.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked.

I looked away. For some reason I couldn't meet her gaze. "I didn't want to worry you. I thought it was something else back at that watchtower, and I honestly thought-"

"You are my best friend!" She cried. "I want to know what's going on so I can help you!"

"Nothing is wrong with me."

"But something is going on!"

"I wanted to see if it would happen again," I explained calmly. "If it did, you were going to be the first one to know."

"I should have known when it first happened," she muttered. "We are stuck in a strange world, Cathy, and we need to stick together if we are going to survive this."

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "I'm sorry, Abby. I truly am. And I totally regret not telling you sooner. Trust me, I wanted to tell you after all that happened, but I didn't even know what really happened myself. Then I forgot about it after what happened at that meeting."