Chapter 1: Selective amnesia

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings.

Super quick flashback:

'What's …' Cat trailed off as she took in their surroundings. 'Yep, this is very bad,' she said, looking at the delicately carved white buildings of Rivendell.

oOo

I realized that we were inside, but in a big airy room. I also realized we weren't alone.

'Elrond!' Erin cried. The elf turned round, looking confused.

'I don't think he recognizes us,' I whispered with a sinking feeling.

'Who are you?' he asked.

'I'm Erin. This is my sister, Cat. We're, um… we're here for the Council.'

Elrond frowned. 'Have we met before? I know those names…'

'We've never been to Imladris before,' I said carefully.

'From what land do you come?'

'Scotland,' Erin blurted. Elrond looked confused.

'I have heard of no such place on Middle-earth,' he said.

'We're not from middle-earth,' I said. Elrond raised his eyebrows (and when you've got eyebrows like Elrond's…). 'Indeed? Then it is as I have foreseen…'

Oh, no I thought. 'Foreseen'? Erin looked equally worried as Elrond continued. 'Two strangers would come, from another land, to aid in the War of the Ring… though whether their efforts would end in good or evil I cannot tell.'

'NOOO!' Erin yelled.

'The hell, Erin?'

'I won't do it! I won't become a Mary-Sue!'

'Relax. Look, your hair's still a normal hair colour.'

Elrond, who had been looking rather bemused by this exchange, turned and spoke to Elladan and Elrohir, who had randomly appeared. 'Show these girls to their guest rooms, Elladan. Elrohir, has the halfing awoken?'

'Wait!' Erin interrupted. The elves stared at her. 'Sorry, but, what's the date today?'

'It is October the twenty-first,' Elrond replied. Erin and I exchanged glances.

'The hobbit is still unconscious, Ada.' Elrohir replied. Elrond stood up.

'I must go see to him,' he said. 'Lady Cat, Lady Erin, I wish to talk more with you before the Council starts.' With that, he swept out of the room, followed by one of the twins.

The other one led us to a corridor with loads of doors, and showed us one at the end. 'This leads to your rooms,' he said, and then wandered off.

oOo

Our room was also light and airy, with twin beds and a balcony that looked out over the courtyard entrance-y bit with the archway. I flopped onto one of the beds while Erin began investigating our room.

'So, we get shoved into middle-earth by Saruman, none of the middle-earthians seem to know who we are, and Elrond thinks we have superpowers or something.' I said. 'This day just keeps getting better and better.'

'I guess it's not too surprising that they don't know who we are,' Erin's voice said from outside, where she was standing on the balcony. 'Weren't they at the bit in Rohan when they turned up at our house?'

'Oh, yeah… but Elrond seemed to almost remember.'

'He's a smart cookie.'

'And I guess if he's foreseen that we'll be useful, maybe he'll let us join the Fellowship.' Erin was quiet. '…We are gonna join the Fellowship, right?'

'… Right.'

I sat up, looking at my twin in surprise. 'Don't you want to?'

'Yeah… but it'll be difficult, won't it? Not messing with the plot, not getting killed…'

'Come on! If we don't, we'll just be stuck in Rivendell, where I will go slowly mad with boredom and then drive you slowly mad with annoyingness.'

'Okay, okay, but first you have to promise not to save Haldir.'

'Only if you promise not to save Boromir.' We pinkie-swore on it, and then Erin grinned evilly. 'Let's go explore!'