action.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo arrives rolling and tumbling across the floor.

There was a great shadow over him then, something with a terrible stench and legs too numerous to count. And now, light. He shields himself from the brightness and scoots back until he bumps against the wall, then scrambles to find shelter behind a couch. It hurts his eyes. The air is suddenly too clear, everything too clean. He fears it is a trick.

He speaks in a hush, afraid to alert the enemies but more afraid of being alone. ]

Sam? Where are you, Sam?

Comments

[wizard_redfive]

[She shrugs.]

It varies. Sometimes things are calm and quiet, and other times we're fighting for our lives. While it's usually pretty safe around here, we rarely go a month without something crazy happening.

[bronwe]

[ He nods. ]

I apologize for my manners earlier, I had just come from a place where such things don't matter.

[wizard_redfive]

That's all right. I suspected as much. Many people arrive here in the midst of crisis, myself included.

[bronwe]

What was it, if I may ask? [ Better than talking about his own. ]

[wizard_redfive]

[Fine with her. Dairine can't tell him all the details, but some should be OK.]

The universe was being torn apart by expanding dark matter.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo nods slowly. ]

That is terrible. I hope it is true that time does not move while we are here.

[wizard_redfive]

So do I. [Because she is the only one who knows the solution to the problem.]

But only time can tell. Eventually the same magic that grabs us sends us back.

[bronwe]

Have any returned to prove it?

[wizard_redfive]

Many have gone home and returned, some multiple times. Most forget their stay here, but recently a few have returned with their memories intact. So yes, that theory had largely been proven.

[bronwe]

That sounds sad, to forget all that happens here, if one has spent years.

[wizard_redfive]

I think it'd be more sad for those forgotten. To hold many memories together but no longer share them.

[bronwe]

Maybe. I'm not sure which I would rather be.

[wizard_redfive]

Me neither. Best not to worry too much about it though. We'll leave when the castle decides to let us go, whether we like it or not.