Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.
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Yes, this is another Girl Falls into Middle-earth fanfic with the added Frodomance tied into the mix. The only difference with this story, and I've seen this in only a few fanfics, is the girl has schizophrenia. I'm going to do my best to keep this as realistic as possible.
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Amethyst sat alone at the front table, right where the remote stood. She remembered that day as clear as a bell, and not too soon. But a few days ago, she had been mute from head to toe, her experiences locked in her heart. She dared not speak about it. Who could believe anyone who spoke about hearing voices and seeing things others could not see? Next to the voices telling her to do things, things she didn't really want to do… oh, she couldn't do this. She was a good person. She had to be. This was impossible…
Her deep green eyes glanced up at the man who approached her, sitting down in front of her and keeping her gaze off the television. He wore white robes, his hair was long and brown, and his ears were pointy. Surely, she was dreaming. He had such a fair face, too.
Maybe she was dreaming. It was hard to say. She moved a small lock of dark hair off her eyelid, doing her best to keep her composure.
This elf had a clipboard and a yellow pencil. Just what was he up to?
"Yes," the elf said in a light masculine voice. He turned to her now, telling her in kind, gentle words, "I do believe you are being moved today."
"Moved?" she asked, her gaze tired. She had to admit she was on a lot of medicine.
"Yes. You're to be stationed on Tol Eressëa, to meet Frodo Baggins, the famous Ring-bearer who helped defeat Sauron," the elf answered. He had his pencil ready. "Name?"
"What?" she asked, confused.
"Your name, miss. Can you tell me your name?" the elf addressed her, keeping his voice even and soft. "It's all right if you can't. Most people who come to Tol Eressëa in your condition are always in need of assistance."
Now she was mad. What condition did she have that was so important? Did this elf think she had a disease? And yet, the elf's gaze was sad. She felt hot fury growing inside, which she abated ever so slowly.
"No need to panic, miss. You are safe here and soon will be safe on Tol Eressëa," the elf pointed out.
Safe? Did this elf truly think she was safe? She didn't feel safe and yet, she was in a safe place. And now she was to be sent to Tol Eressëa to be with Frodo Baggins. It… oh. Oh. Well, maybe things would be all right.
"Now please, give me your name. We can't send you to Tol Eressëa if I don't have a name," the elf asked, politely.
"Amethyst…" she panicked, if only for a moment. "Amethyst Lily, but most people call me Amee."
"Amethyst Lily. Amee for short," the elf checked it off. "Good. How long ago have you read 'The Lord of the Rings'?"
Amethyst's eyes widened. He was joking, right? No one here ever spoke about The Lord of the Rings. Now he needed to know this information. Was he serious? There was a glint of light. Frodo. Frodo was in the hospital with her, holding onto her… now. Now he was gone. And she…
"Miss Amethyst," the elf spoke up, getting her attention. "Hullo. You will see Frodo when we get to Tol Eressëa. I was asking how long ago have you read 'The Lord of the Rings'."
"But you… did you see him?" Amee asked, beside herself with fright. To her shock, the elf nodded. "Then maybe you have what I have…"
"Miss," the elf was serious. "We shall discuss this when you leave, which will be very soon. Now, I ask you for the final time, how long ago has it been since you saw and read 'The Lord of the Rings'."
"A while," Amee told him. Her senses were returning. That was good, right?
"How long ago? A short while? A long while?"
"Short. A short while." Amee blabbered on afterwards, "Look, I like 'The Lord of the Rings' a lot. Frodo is my favorite character – favorite hobbit. I don't know what I'd do if…"
"Stop!" the elf raised his hand. Amee's lips closed shut in shock. The elf glanced up at her with a calm expression. "I understand your obsession, but we have no idea what Frodo will do if he learned you're his fan… fangirl nonetheless."
"Sorry," Amee retracted, depression hitting her quickly. Had she said something wrong? Done something wrong?
The elf's hand reached for hers, but stopped, moving back a little. He simply said, "Don't take it too hard. Who knows? You may be the right person Frodo needs." He added, jotting notes down on the clipboard. "And that said… yes, you will be a hobbit when you leave here."
"Wait. What?" Amee asked, confused. "A… hobbit? You don't think I'll go mad, do you?"
The elf stood up, shaking his head. "My darling Amee, you need to calm down. Think of where you are and all that you can achieve once you leave here. A mental institution is not where you need to be right now, but it is the last place anyone expected when we found you. And now, I bid you adieu, Miss Lily. Good day." Just like that, he walked out of the room with his belongings, whistling as he left the floor.
Amee's gaze returned to the television. For a second, it felt – literally felt – like Frodo was already with her, breathing down her neck. She slapped the back of her neck. No. There wasn't anything there, or anybody. What was she to do now? Maybe watching the television would be the best idea for her… she clicked the remote. Nothing happened. What? Was it jammed? She clicked it a few times… oh good. There was the station…
Wait. There was a hobbit house on the screen. And Frodo. Had she gone mad? Or was she already mad? Well, the elf had a point about where she was. She nearly sighed and giggled. There was Frodo with his fair features, thick, brown, curly hair on his head and feet, tussled in the wind, and wearing his usual velvet clothes and white dress shirt. Wait… this was new. He was talking with the same elf who just spoke with her… they were pointing at her.
What sort of station was this? She pointed to herself, accidentally glanced over at one of the patients, who was glaring at her. She smiled sheepishly, retracting her index finger. Maybe it was better if… the station was switched to golf. She no longer had the remote. Just her luck. But she knew she saw Frodo and the elf she just met…
Her gaze turned abruptly to one of the nurses. Oh great. Was she going to be stuck here longer for what she did? She knew she was doing well.
"You're being discharged," the nurse told her. "Grab all your belongings and meet me out in the hallway."
"Okay," she nodded. It was for the best, but she couldn't wait to get out of here. She wasted no time grabbing her clothes and whatever coloring book pages she already colored on the bedroom dresser, right nice and neat in her purple folder. But what she had on now was a lilac blouse, tan dress pants and white socks. It was what they gave her here at the mental hospital. Now she was leaving, and there were all her clothes out in the hallway… wait. All of them? She didn't remember having all of her clothes from home here.
And there was the elf again, even as she put on her white tennis shoes. He was grabbing her belongings, alongside the nurse. Just what was going on here? She dared not speak another word. The silence was growing stronger once again.
And in silence, she followed the elf and the nurse from one hallway and room to the next, until they took a side door, leading out… onto the island? And she wasn't alone. There were patients scattered about the island, with nurses and elves heading to their destination homes. So, where was mine located?
"Yes," the elf faced me, "you'll find that many have come to seek healing. Some patients stay longer, even up to the point where they never return home. I do hope that you seek home, Miss Lily."
"Tol Eressëa," she asked, concerned.
"Yes. We're on Tol Eressëa. And here we are!" the elf said, showing her to a hobbit hole. Just like that, her feet ached in pain. "Yes. Your shoes will grow, too. That's the only article of clothing we're afraid may fit you. But we've already assigned you to Frodo Baggins and he is expecting you. You are to help him heal and he, in the process, may help you heal."
"I don't know anything about healing," she admitted, loudly. She stopped, jerking forward only slightly. The door opened, and there was Frodo… but his expression was stunned. Did he know her? Was it possible that he already knew about her, before she arrived on the island?
She couldn't tell, but the first word that came out of his mouth was, "You." She was screwed.
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How was that for the first chapter? I hope it wasn't too cliché. I've been working so hard to get this first chapter right. I had no idea it would lead to this subject, but it did. I hope it's realistic enough. Thanks for reading. :) More chapters are coming.
