(( Don't own any of the LOTR characters. No profit made from this, yadayada. Please enjoy the story. :) ))
It was one of her favorite things to do when she had been little. Climbing the trees had always been great fun, and she liked how high she could go. It was always fascinating how much farther she'd been able to see than when she was on the ground. Often, she would lie in these bushes of lilac, staring out into space, thinking or sleeping. The sweet smelling lilac flowers all around her as she did so. The peaceful, light lavender haze as her eyes closed in rest eased her from the days stresses. Things changed, but now, older, she was still able to do that same thing as she'd done when she was so much younger. She lay there lazily in the evening light, her tired eyes drooping gently, but not closing just yet.
She lifted her hand and looked at the simple, silver ring that she wore upon her finger, and marveled at how it glinted and shone for her. She loved her ring, as it, unlike so many others, carried a sense of home in its warm silver metal. She'd once tried to take it off, and keep it off, for a week… it hadn't worked so well. She'd yearned to have it back, and finally gave in and put it back on. That's how close she was to it. The last thing she'd ever gotten from her grandma.
It also carried a sense of family, of the past. It had been her grandmother's ring, and she would now wear it on her finger for always. Her grandma had died some years ago, and had passed it on to Jessica's aunt, which had given it to her as a gift after her graduation.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the pure smell of the crisp spring air, and the soft, wonderful feeling of being alone lulled her quickly into a warm and deep sleep, her tired hazel green eyes closed, letting loose her dreams, with the warm sense of lilacs on the fringes of her sleep…
When she reopened her eyes, all weariness left her as she stared up at a glint of silver, and along that silver shine, shone two barely distinguishing eyes, around a dark shape in front of her. It was so dark that, at first, all she saw was the dark outline of a person. Jessica wondered how they could even see in this darkness, and focused on staying unphased, rather than jump up in a flurry of motion.
She moved to sit up, and felt the arrow touch lightly against her forehead. She froze, not wanting any injury, as she felt how sharp the tip and side of the arrow point really was. She looked up with her eyes, trying to define who he was and what he wore… perhaps it was just her brother's friend, playing yet another of his evil little tricks on her.
"I hate being in this position, can I get up now?"
"You may stand. But do not try to run."
This was not how her brother's friend spoke. This voice was different… Cautiously, she stood, watching him. Somehow, she believed he'd do something to her. It was instinct that told her that if she moved too quickly, he might wound her if she startled him. She started by moving slowly, trying to tell him that she was harmless. Jessica looked at the long bow he had, and the sharp arrow in it, still ready, but now slowly being pointed downward, at the ground. Perhaps, if she was lucky, he wouldn't think she was a threat.
She had to hope he didn't think she was threatening. After all, the last thing she needed was to end up skewered on an arrow.
She looked around, and knew that she was nowhere that she knew. The air smelled different. And it seemed far too quiet. The grass was taller and leaves and twigs were everywhere, according to the small breaks and crinkles under her feet. That and the darkness was a clean giveaway, unless the whole area had had a black out. Her house was gone, and she'd woken up on the ground and not in her lilac bush. With a taste of the air, she knew there wasn't any lilac around.
She noticed that this mans bow and arrow set was primitive compared to some that she had seen before, but that didn't mean it couldn't hurt her. But who the hell was he? Who the hell went around with a bow and arrow set anymore? His bow was gracefully shaped, and for some reason, things began ringing. Things simply weren't right.
"Who…?" She began, but paused when the moon again showed through the thick clouds that night…
He had shimmering golden hair and pale features, and she suddenly realized his clothes were from something like an old movie, but better. He was beautiful, in the whole sense of the word. But then, she remembered where she had seen him…
She nearly fell on her back in surprise. She breathed in, and he looked puzzled at her.
Could he be?
Was it really possible that it could be... him?