Author's Note: I plan to update this story every day or two. I've made every effort to be accurate to Tolkein's work. If there are any errors or grammar/spelling mistakes, please let me know and I will try to correct it. There are a few Silmarillion references (spoilers if you're planning on reading it), but nothing that requires knowledge of the Sil. I've worked exclusively out of the books rather than the movies. Reviews are very encouraging to authors, and I'd appreciate feedback, so please review!
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters from Star Trek: Voyager or Lord of the Rings. I am making no money from this story.
Chapter 1: Q
Seven of Nine stood up from her workstation, stretching the stiffness from her muscles. She had worked a twelve hour shift, as she often did. She had the endurance for the long session, so there was no reason not to stop work after eight hours. A Vulcan walked into the room, nodding to her curtly. She briefed him about the details of the work that day, then walked quickly to her quarters. She had been at the science center for three months now. She had come there shortly after Chakotay died. While he had been alive, she'd been able to cope with Earth, but now it was awkward for her. People there did not understand her, and everywhere there were reminders of Chakotay and the sense of community she'd had while Voyager had been in the Delta Quadrant.
None of that was left. On Earth, almost everyone she met thought of her as "the ex-Borg," and it made life awkward, at least as she perceived it. Only the Voyager crew had understood, and now they were scattered. Even the Doctor was obsessed with his research toward improving hologram programming. Despite everything, Seven had managed to find a measure of peace on Vulcan. The Vulcans, with their all-encompassing logic, saw her as another worker, less objectionable than most humans because she, like them, avoided emotion. It wasn't a fulfilling life, but it was preferable to Earth, and more efficient.
Seven entered her spartan quarters and checked her messages. Nothing, as usual. She turned quickly at a noise behind her. There was nothing there. Nothing was out of place or at all unusual. Shaking her head, she started walking toward the regeneration unit in the back of the room. Again there was a noise, almost like someone stepping on a stick. She turned again, only to see a figure near the door.
"Q." Seven shook her head. "What is the purpose of your visit?"
"Quite the greeting there, Seven. I might almost think you aren't happy to see me."
"Quite."
"Tsk, tsk, Seven. So unfriendly. You've spent far too much time with the Vulcans, but then, you always were abrupt. Come to think of it, you remind me of someone else I know…"
"Why are you here?"
"Actually, I came to check up on you. I know it's been hard for you since Chakotay's accident…" For a moment Q's tone was almost considerate—just for a moment. "But to live on Vulcan! The Vulcans are such prudes! They're boring!"
"It is more agreeable than Earth."
"So you can lose what humanity you've gained?" Q's voice was unusually sharp, and lacked the mocking tone it usually held. Seven looked at him sharply.
"I do not see how this relates to my humanity. This is simply a less awkward place to exist."
"Because you used to be Borg, I know." Q's voice was patronizing. "Of course. You couldn't deal with the awkwardness of that 'existence,' much less living, so you left."
"Here I have useful work to do."
"You're avoiding the issue. And you didn't have useful work on Earth, Seven? Tell me another one. This isn't getting us anywhere, now, is it?"
"No, it is not. If you are finished with your nagging…" Q wasn't the first person to give her this lecture, but he was the most
annoying one.
"Nagging, Seven? You're winning almost as many popularity
points as Jean-Luc."
"Captain Picard did not care to indulge your whims any more than I."
"Spoilsport. You know, I do think there's someone you ought to meet. You and she are two of a kind, I think. Before we do that, though, you'll have to be dressed appropriately. We can't have you sticking out like a sore thumb." Seven cocked her head at the odd expression, but Q gestured slightly, and she found herself wearing a floor-length dress. The deep green gown had flared sleeves and swirled around her feet, which were in leather boots. Her hair lay loose on her shoulders.
"What are you doing, Q? Why this archaic clothing?" She had seen similar clothing in holo documentaries of Earth's Middle Ages.
"Archaic? You wound me, Seven. I think it suits you. You'll want to blend in as well as possible." Q paused for a moment. "We'll also have to do something about your reliance on that thing." He nodded toward the regeneration module, then gestured toward Seven.
Seven felt a slight tingling throughout her body. "What have you done, Q?"
"Just made you a little more independent. As long as you sleep and eat, you'll be able to get by without regenerating."
"Why?" Seven's head was spinning. Q was not known for philanthropism. He had a hidden agenda behind everything he did.
"I'd like you to visit someone for me, and you won't have access to anything technological, much less your regeneration unit. Oh! I just remembered something else. The universal translator will make this no fun at all. You'll have to get by without it, but I'll make sure you can understand the Common Speech. You won't need anything else. You're ready, so let's go!"
Q took her arm, then Seven's quarters faded, replaced by an open plain. Hills rolled on every side, and there was no trace of habitation.
"Where are we, Q?" Seven made no attempt to hide her irritation. As soon as she opened her mouth, she realized she was speaking a different language. With effort, she switched back to Basic. "What have you done to me?"
"Don't fight the language, Seven. It'll be much easier if you don't. The language is called Westron, or the Common Tongue. You're in Middle Earth, more specifically, a land called Rohan. They speak another language entirely here, but they understand the Common speech."
"I have never heard of a place called Middle Earth. Is it a planet?"
"No, of course you haven't heard of it, and no, it isn't a planet, not really." Q adopted an annoyed, patronizing tone. "This is a world that is completely inaccessible by warp drive and transporters, no matter how far you travel or how many trans-warp cores you use up. It exists outside your dimension entirely. It's even further from Earth than the farthest edge of the Delta Quadrant. After all, it's possible to travel to the Delta Quadrant—it might just take a while." Q looked around for a moment, his gaze going distant. "Things aren't entirely peachy here, either. There's a lot of hubbub and people are pretty suspicious. I'm not very welcome here. That's why we stopped in the middle of nowhere instead of going straight to the city."
"And that is why you're using me to do your errands?" Seven's voice was dry with sarcasm.
"You have a good sense of direction; you'll be able to find it just fine. Just head off that way," Q pointed, ignoring her comment entirely. "In a couple days you'll get to Edoras. It's the capital city of Rohan. Just don't tell anyone I sent you, especially King Théoden or his advisor. If anyone asks, tell them you were trying to go to Minas Tirith, but you got lost. It'll keep the tension to a minimum." Q handed her a bag. "Here are some things you may want. Ta ta!"
With that, Q vanished, leaving Seven alone. Fuming, she looked around her. There was nothing except rolling hills. She looked in the bag Q had given her. It contained a water bag, some dried foodstuffs, extra underclothes, and a small dagger. She pulled the sheathed dagger out from the mess of dried fruit and meat. Drawing it from its sheath, she tested the blade. It was very sharp, and well made. If people here were suspicious, she would do well not to carry it openly, nor keep it in the pack, which would likely be searched by anyone who stopped her. She resheathed the dagger, then drew up the hem of her dress and put the dagger in her boot. It was mildly uncomfortable, but at least the weapon was concealed.
With no other options, Seven hoisted the bag to her back, adjusted the straps, and set out walking the way Q had pointed. She made good time and had traveled several miles before she stopped to take a sip from the water bag, then continued walking until dark. The moon was full and her vision was good enough to continue, but she did not want to risk disorientation. She had no landmarks and had to rely solely on Q's vague pointing. Her lack of knowledge about local wildlife also made continuing dangerous.
Seven rested most of the night, but only dozed. She did not allow herself to fall fully asleep. She was unaccustomed to sleeping in the first place, and she was nervous about leaving herself fully unaware of her surroundings in this strange place. The thought of sleeping naturally was odd. It was an awkward and inefficient way of refreshing the body, one that left the sleeper unaware and vulnerable. She did not know why Q had brought her here. He must have had a reason, but she had no doubt he was up to little good. If he had reason to warn her not to mention him, there was probably a reason. Q usually wanted to be the center of attention.
Seven got up just before dawn. She was slightly tired, but it was a minor inconvenience. She also had a variety of bumps and bruises from sleeping on the ground. She ate a few bites of the food Q had given her, careful not to take more than was necessary. Her stomach was not accustomed to eating sufficient food for sustenance. She ran her fingers through tangled hair, trying to straighten it out. That dealt with, she stretched a little, then set off at a jog, running through the morning. The long skirt was annoying, but she soon learned to run in it. Near noon, her stomach started to growl, so she ate a few bites of the food. It was bland, but edible. She continued running the rest of that day, then spent the night as the one before.
The next day was similar to the one before. By evening Seven was beginning to wonder if Q had intentionally misled her. She rested that night, but must have fallen fully asleep. She woke in the morning with a parched throat. Her water was beginning to run low, and she was taking only what was necessary. She stretched without getting up or even opening her eyes. When she did, a shock awaited her.