Hello everyone! This is the translation of my own German fanfic "Hin ... und wieder zurück?". It can be found on fanfiktion and archiveofourown, but I don't know if I post it here as well. If many people whish this, I'll do it.

Prologue or Out of the Dark

Tuesday. 13:20. Schools out. Hurrying the 200 metres to the tram station. Not wanting to wait 10 minutes. Walking fast and tanklike through the crowds of students. 703 is arriving. Clattering Doors. Entering. Sitting down. Backpack open, taking book, cellphone and headphones. Plugging them in. Music on. Opening the book, reading.

That's how the story of Miriam Schmied starts. My story. As always on every damn weekday the same half an hour tram ride home. As long as my bag wasn't to heavy, I would always carry a book with me. Sometimes the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Dwarves by Markus Heitz, the Sharpe's-Series by Bernard Cornwell and today … The Hobbit – in English.

I can't remember how often I read this book already. One could say that I knew the German as well as the English version by heart. As often as I had watched the films I could even synchronise the main characters the best of which was my Gollum imitation.

The music was at a pleasant volume while I read my book. I pretty much ignored it. I only used it to keep the sound of the tram away. In a sharp turn the driver accelerated and I had to hold to my seat to stay seated. Sunday driver. I turned the page. On the right hand side an illustration by Alan Lee appeared. I was able to draw quite well but something like this was above my level. The tram jerked up and down and squealed a bit. For me the half an hour tram journey was somewhat of a time-out. A time of the day where I could just rest for a while. But that would end as soon as I arrived at home. Homework, learning for tests, helping my dad in the household, just doing something here and there and so on and so forth.

Dong. 'Schlüterstraße / Arbeitsargentur. Umsteigemöglichkeit in Richtung - Connections to – Hauptbahnhof, Südfriedhof, Neuss, Ratingen.' *

The to me well known announcement was audible even over my music. It wasn't necessary for me. After all this years I knew the way very well. The movements of the tram were always the same and easily remembered.

Annoyed that I had to change trams, I shut the book and put it under my arm. Then I stood up shouldered my backpack and moved to the next door. I pressed the button. While the tram was breaking I looked behind my back. Shit! As so often the 712 was already at the station. Open the door already! Like a sprint racer I stood behind the door waiting for the starting signal. As soon as the door was slightly ajar I squeezed out ran across the junction onto the other platform and rushed through the door of the 712. Oh man, it's full again...' I sighed, resigned to my fate and leaned against the wall near the driver's cabin. The doors closed loudly.

Than the tram accelerated rattling over the rail road switch towards Ratingen.

I took my book from under my arm and read on. It was the 'Misty Mountain' scene as I called it. Exactly that scene in which Richard Armitage as Thorin sings the song in the film. His enchanting voice reverberated in my head along the verses. A pleasant shiver ran down my spine while I felt the magic of the words and the atmosphere. The magic seized me. Suddenly I lusted for an adventure. One like that of Bilbo Baggins. There and Back Again. To forget the stress of everyday life just once. Just … anywhere but here. Just once … I want to live.

Distracted by the book my music sneaked into my head.

'...kein Weg zurück.

Das weiße Licht rückt näher, Stück für Stück.

Will mich ergeben.

Muss ich denn sterben, um zu leben?'**

I can't really remember what happened next. Just moments after this verses there was aloud bang, metal creaked and glass splintered. I remember horrifying pain, splinters of glass in my body, vast quantities of crimson blood, the taste of iron on my tongue … and Thorin Oakenshield, standing there with his pipe in his hand, starting to sing.

Far over the Misty Mountains cold

To dungeons deep and caverns old

We must away, ere break of day

To find our long forgotten gold.

It was the last I heard before I fell into eternal darkness.

A/N:

there are some things left in german, because miriam is from germany. it felt better, to leave it in the original language.

here are the translations.

*
Dong. 'Schlüterstreet / employment agency. Connections to central station, southern cemetery, Neuss, Ratingen.'

**
'...no way back,
the white light comes closer, step by step.
Want to surrender
Do I have to die, to live? ...'

-from "Out of the Dark" by Falco