Prologue
Haldir of Lorien. The mysterious and sexy elf from the Tolkien stories. Never faced death in the books, but in the movies he dies a gruesome death. Cassie sat disappointed yet again after watching the movie at her friend Becky's house. The tears streamed down her cheek. 'Damn Peter Jackson for killing him off' she thought to herself. Becky looked over at her friend and shook her head.
"Girl, you need to get a grip. It is just a movie, he is played by an actor." she said to Cassie.
"I know, but he is just so damn beautiful. So mysterious and dangerous. I want a guy just like him," she said looking down at her popcorn bowl.
"You know at our age, we should not be acting like teenagers, love struck and puppy eyed. We are women of 30 who have respectful jobs and responsibility." Becky pointed out.
"I know. To see something so beautiful, real or otherwise, destroyed it is… just wrong." Cassie said putting the bowl on the coffee table.
Becky stood to take the dishes into the kitchen. Cassie followed to help her and began cleaning up. After washing the sink full of dishes, Cassie turned to Becky.
"Well I need to get home. I have to go to work early in the morning. The visitors are going to arrive at the Literary Fair early and I still have a few alterations to do to my costume," Cassie said putting on her jacket.
"So what is your costume for this event going to be this time?" Becky asked following Cassie then stood at the door.
"We are putting on display the works of Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings', so I am dressing as an elven lady, ears and all. I think it will be interesting," Cassie said smiling in delight, "I am very excited. I always wanted to be an elf."
"Sounds like something right up your alley. I will talk to you tomorrow," Becky said opening the door.
"Okay, talk to you tomorrow," Cassie looked out into the night and saw the rain falling hard," I just hope it stops raining. I have an hours drive tomorrow and I do not like driving in the rain."
"Well, be careful. Good night," Becky said starting to close the door.
"Night, Beck," Cassie yelled back at her while walking to her car and waving.
Cassie drove home in the pouring rain. It was unusual for it to rain so hard this time of year. She reached her street and pulled into her driveway.
Cassie entered her apartment, closed and locked the door then threw the house keys on the little phone table, hung her jacket on the coat peg and walked into the room that held her costume. She finished up the last of the hems and placed the rhinestone jewels on the neckline. The gown was finally done, then Cassie checked the slippers for excess strings.
Feeling tired and glad that the costume was done, she made her way to the bathroom to shower. With her long dark brown hair still wet she made her way to her bedroom to put on her night-clothes. The walls of her bedroom were covered like a teenager's room with posters from the Lord of the Rings movies. She stared a moment at the poster of Haldir. "Wish you were real," she said to it.
She hopped into her bed, set the alarm, and turned out her lamp. Finally, she fell asleep.
The morning came too quick for her. It was now 6 A.M. Her excitementstartedto rise up in her. She made her way into the living room where the costume was, picked it up and returned to her bedroom. She laid it out onto the bed looking at the costume, pride welled up within her for what she had accomplished. After dressing, she began to diligently braiding her waist length dark brown hair. Something perfected by practice. She donned the headpiece, which her friend had made for her in his , she put on the pointed ears. Once she was done, she took a long look into the mirror. 'Wow' she thought, 'they look so real'. She was well prepared and had been since day one.
Outside the thunder cracked and lightning flashed across the early morning sky. Cassie began to worry. "Damn, when is this rain going to stop?" she asked herself. After eatinga quick breakfast the wannabe ellithput on her cloak. She walked out into the pouring rain and got into her car. Backing out of the driveway she started to get a bad feeling in her stomach which she recognised all to well. It seemed like that something bad always happened right after getting it. She chose to ignore it.
She travelled north for a while, making her way to the national park chosen for its ancient looking woods. Upon entering the park's gates, she knew she still had a little ways to go before reaching the location. The rain began the visibility almost impossible.
Out of nowhere a deer appeared into the road. Cassie swerved to miss hitting it and lost total control of the car. It spun out of control, tumbling and rolling down the drop off beside the road. She could hear the sound of twisting metal and glass breaking, the roar of the car was all she could hear, then a sharp pain to her head came. When the car stopped completely, her world came to a stop with it. Dazed and confused she looked out onto the floor of the forest before everything suddenly went black.