Authors Note: I re-edited this chapter as I decided to come back to this fic. It has come to my attention that previous readers didn't like my Thranduil/OC pairing and want variety. For those that feel that way, please check out my Glorfindel fic or perhaps write your own? Please review your thoughts of the fic so far as it encourages me to write more! I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of Tolkien's characters but my own OC's.

"The brightest light casts the darkest shadow."

― Jess C. Scott, The Darker Side of Life

Chapter 1

I'm late, I thought in dismay. The breeze ran its cool fingers through my wild chestnut strands that I spent half an hour trying to tame. With my caramel overcoat whipping around behind me like a cape, my black and white converse thudded against the tile as I raced through the hallways of the university. My chest heaved with exertion as I ran into another student, causing them to drop their papers all over the floor. Sending them a sheepish smile, I apologized repetitively while quickly helping the annoyed girl pick up her things. Shoving them at her chest, I muttered one last apology before darting off towards my class.

The classroom door was finally in sight. Noticing the door closing to be locked from the inside for tardy students like myself, I picked up my pace. The grey haired professor allowed me to sprint in, disheveled, before he closed the door. The loud resounding click caused me to wince as I gave a sheepish smile to my history professor.

"In the nick of time, Miss Calloway," Professor Donovan raised a grey brow, not impressed. The large assembly of students chuckled. This was not the first time I have been tardy and gained a reputation for it. "I trust next time, you'll be diligent in coming early? College is not for the weak minded."

"Of course," I mumbled, knowing full well that I couldn't stay on time to save my life. Picking an open seat next to my smirking friend, Gabriel, I elbowed him lightly in the ribs before facing the front of the classroom with red cheeks.

While Professor Donovan droned on about European history, pointing out main factors of the Reign of Terror and the infamous Robespierre, I drew random doodles in my notebook. The class was a total of two hours which seemed to drone on torturously. My thoughts raced about the YouTube channel I direct with a team that films the quirks and perks of the university. Our next meeting was tomorrow. The editors wanted a new logo and I had to plan an interview with the campus's upcoming speaker, Sean Astin. He played Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. To interview him would bring ratings of our channel up.

I always been a huge fan of Tolkien's universe. My roommate, Jordan, and I would have a weekly marathon of all the movies. Sometimes I would find myself yearning to be in the movie itself.

"Nadel."

The voice barely registered in my mind as I focused on doodling. The pencil etched itself on the paper with quick measured strokes. A sharp flick to my forehead had me cursing as I found Gabriel gazing down at me meaningfully. His bag hiked on his shoulder. "You going to stay here all day?" He teased. The students around us were packing their bags and quickly shuffling out the door. Blinking, I felt myself flush in embarressment.

"Very funny," I stuck out my tongue, snapping my notebook shut and zipping up my bag. Walking side by side, Gabriel nudged me.

"What are your plans for the summer?" He asked. Stopping abruptly, I grinned widely at the brunette jock. Gabriel was here on a scholarship while he plays on the baseball team so his question surprised me as he was normally busy at practice or with his teammates. To be honest, I was hoping he would ask me out. He was the first friendly face I came across and was always sharing the notes I missed or helping me with biology and math. He was a close friend, encouraging me with my channel.

"I was thinking about a camping trip with the crew." I smiled in excitement, deciding to play off my feelings. "I haven't been in years!" I've always been a big enthusiast. Always dreaming big and coming up with spontaneous ideas on the spot. Gabe laughed and continued walking, shaking his head. "What?" My brows furrowed in a frown as I ran after him. "It'll be fun!"

"You say that all the time!"

A sudden nauseating feeling overtook me as I leaned against the wall from the suddenness of it. I heard my name being called as Gabriel's worried face appeared in front of my own. Dots swam in my vision as I began to feel faint.

"You alright?" I heard him ask as he placed a hand on my arm. "You should see a nurse. I'll drive you."

The notion was sweet, but unwarranted. I began to shake my head, sure it was nothing when a woman's voice began chanting in my head. Yallume, aratoamin. Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle. Tel' coiasira is sii'.

Tendrils of smoke surrounded me before I could shoot a reply and I found myself surrounded by a white swirling mist. The hell? My body seemed paralyzed as I couldn't move.

"Gabe!" I shouted, my voice shaking. I tried with all my strength to reach out to his fading figure. The mist had swallowed him in its depth. "GABE!" This time I screamed. My head swam and I felt as if I were flying. The mist slowly dissipated as the whisps of white fog lowered me and floated away. Crunchy leaves bit into my hands as my back hit a winding trunk that twisted in itself like vines. Dark trees surrounded me with small streams of sunbeams lighting the forest.

For a few long moments, I just stayed there. Waves of shock, disbelief, and fear rippled through me. The moments seemed to turn into hours as my mind tried to wrap itself around what just happened. My rapid breathing filled my ears and my heart beat against my chest like a drum. Here I was in a forest when just a mere second ago I was in the hallway of the university. Using the tree to pull myself up, I appraised my surroundings. The smooth bark scratched at my palm as I froze just standing there, not wanting to move.

"Gabe!" I called hesitantly for my friend. The echo resonated amongst the darkness, slicing through the eerie silence. Could he be here too? Or is it just me? It all seemed too vivid to be a dream. The texture of the bark, the slight breeze, and the earthy scent of the forest was all too real and thats what terrified me the most. "Hello!" Gaining false bravado, I ventured further, allowing my hand to fall from the tree. The false security of the trunk left me causing shivers of fear to roll down my spine. The hairs on the back of my neck raised as if I was being watched.

Picking up a large stick to use as a weapon, I whirled around once I heard hissing. The canopy above rustled as if a large animal or person were jumping from tree to tree. The rustling grew louder and stopped above me. Raising the stick, I tilted my head up.

The largest spider I have ever seen was crawling down the tree. Its eight legs moving quickly as the creature hissed. The two pinchers rubbing greedily together as angry eyes watched me. Whether or not this was a dream, horror seized me at the terrifying sight and my flight instincts kicked in. Dropping the stick, I ran. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," I muttered as I ducked under hanging branches and jumped over roots. In my peripheral vision, another huge arachnid was crawling towards me. "Oh shit!" I stopped once a spider dropped in front of me. Its height was the size of a car. Slowly turning, I found myself surrounded. Why did you drop the stick?! I mentally yelled at myself. Tears rolled down my cheeks as death smiled at me. Was this how I was going to die? In some strange land to my worst fear?

I had to act within moments or I would become a potential meal. I decided if I was going to die, I'd die fighting. Hopefully it doesn't come to that. Glancing around to find a weapon of some sort, my hand felt the ridges of my phone jutting out of my pocket. These spiders seemed nocturnal as the forest was dark. Maybe if I used my flashlight, I could momentarily blind them. My thoughts were hurried as I quickly fumbled for my phone. My thumb shook as I turned on flashlight mode. Holding my arm out, I heard the spider in front of me screech in discomfort. Using this to my advantage, I ran past the creature. One of its flailing legs tripped me, causing my phone to sail out of my hand as I face planted.

Quickly turning on my back, my eyes widened as the two other arachnids started to lunge at me. Grabbing a nearby stick, I held it shakily in front of me. Closing my eyes, I felt a large weight sink against me. An ear piercing screech of agony shook my ear drums. For a moment, I lay there shaking. Drops of wet fluid splashed on my cheek and seeped into my shirt. Opening my eyes in confusion, I found myself staring into the face of one of the spiders. The stick that I was clenching onto in an achingly hard grip was jutting through its head. Letting out a weak laugh, I dropped my head back against the forest floor. I'm not dead.

The relief was short lived as my leg was being tugged. Both arachnids were pulling me from under their fallen friend. The spider I had previously blinded was hissing loudly as it turned the dead spider off of my blood soaked body. Pulling back one of my legs, I sent my foot flying against one of the spider's heads causing them to lose their grip. Crawling backwards, I felt my phone. Grasping it, I quickly unlocked it. Putting the volume up, Coldplay began blasting through the small speakers. It was a guess. But spiders are sensitive to noise. To my luck, the large arachnids became disoriented as they screeched, flailing about.

Standing up, I began to search the forest floor for anything to defend myself. Only leaves scattered the ground. My best option was to run. Whirling around, I found myself faced at arrow point. The silhouette of a tall man stood in front of me. My eyes shifted back to the point of the arrow that was aimed between my eyes.

Three others jumped from behind the trees and over ridges, shooting arrows at the large arachnids. Soon silence engulfed the forest as the song on my phone ended. The blonde man holding the bow at me spoke, "Lle quena i'lambe tel' Eldalie?" The language was beautiful as the endings of each word were prounced in light lisps. It reminded me of the woman's chanting from before.

Shaking my head, I felt my world shift. The ground tilted to meet me before two arms caught me as blackness overtook me.