So, my fiance actually gave me this idea. A story where Sauron actually won the war. Not our heroes, and someone from the future was sent back by the Valar to correct the past. I couldn't get the idea out of my head, so I had to write it down. This is just the beginning. A small opening. A prologue is you will. For anyone who has read my other fic Edge of Night, this is sadly not it's sequel. Although, I do have the first couple chapters written. I just have to go and edit them and everything first. Now, this story will not have a lot of fast updates. Then again, who am I kidding? I never set an actual schedule of when I update. It always get's twisted and warped and never stays on time.

I do want to thank everyone that is taking the time to read this. I'm afraid these first few chapters will kinda slow going. We won't see any familiar faces for a few chapters. Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything except my OC's.

This isn't your typical 10th walker fic. Sure, our heroine is going to be tagging along. Yet, she is anything but a normal mortal girl. She is not from another world. From another Earth. She is from Middle-
Earth. Renamed Earth by the 7th age of men.

It has been 33, 877 years since the War of the Ring. It was now the year 2018 of the 9th age. Lots has changed in the years that have passed. The once wild plains were now gone, only a few wildernesses still exist. Civilization has now boomed into an age of evolution far beyond recognizing.

There were no elves left in the world, all had either sailed or faded into nothing over the years. Magic had slowly left the earth, Men now ruled and over the years, slowly the Earth's green was replaced with concrete and metal. No more dirt roads, they were now laden with asphalt and concrete bridges. Building were no longer stone, but now wood, metal and glass. Some stood as tall as towers, stretching high into the sky, like they were wanting to reach out and touch the vastness of above.

If there were dwarf's or Hobbits, they all but vanished from the Earth. Most likely all killed off ages ago, wiped out from existence. They were all myth now, made up legends to tell in Books or Bedtime stories. Over the ages, the earth's continents moved and shifted, the Valar hiding all that once was.

They called the current age, The Information Age (also known as the Computer Age, Digital Age, or New Media Age). An economy based on information technology. It was a nightmare. To those who were still around to see it. If any at all.

….

Why was the earth like this? Why had it changed so drastically? Well, because 33,877 years ago, the enemy of Middle Earth had won.

Arda was covered in darkness, and all things that were once alive were wiped away. The earth was burnt to ash under Sauron's rule. Out of those ashes though, a new hope rose and eventually, he was laid to rest for good. All other races were gone, all that was left was the world of man. What had caused this? Didn't our heroes win? What could possibly have occurred to create such a future?

Their last hope, died.

Stripped away at the very moment they needed him. Aragorn, the heir of Isildur, was killed before he could he could reclaim the throne. With him dead, the enemy was able to retake his ring and won the War. All was turned to dust afterwards.

The Valar searched and searched for someone, anyone they deemed worthy to right the wrong.

Finally, they found the one they were seeking. One girl, who could right the wrong of the past.

Twenty-four-year-old, Taylor Mason. She is the one now coming into this story. With a small stroke of bad luck and no amount of courage. Well, not courage enough for what was instore for her.

Shall we begin?

New Earth - July 22, 2018

Coffee.

To some, it was the only bright spot in their hazy mornings. The smell of the ground coffee beans as hot water poured over them. Creating a pungent aroma that had many sighing in such satisfaction. It was their holy grail. The only heaven on this earth. Taking that first sip and sighing in pure pleasure at the tastes as it washed over your taste buds.

Then again, to others. It was foul and probably the most disgusting thing they had ever had the pleasure of smelling or tasting. We don't like these people. They threaten our happy coffee existence. Always sneering at us as we gulp, sip or chock on our coffee beverages. They did not know the happiness that came with having your first cup on a blasted Monday morning.

Taylor was feeling that right about now. Having woken up late as it was, she did not have time to make such deliciousness this morning. As she walked down the busy streets on this cloudy, over casted Seattle morning. She walked past a coffee shop and peered inside, letting out a frustrated sigh at the lengthy line.

She'd never get her coffee and make it to work in time. Not wanting to risk getting yelled at by her boss for being late again. She gripped her bag tightly in her white knuckled fist and trudged down the side walk. The gloom that covered the city was greatly reflecting her mood. She'd have to settle for some of the hideously tasting coffee in the employee lounge.

She had five minutes to get to her desk before her boss came out of his office and spotted that she was not there. 5 minutes. Her heels clicked across the ground as she hurriedly pushed her way inside the revolving doors and all but ran across the marble floors of the lobby.

She narrowly squeezed into the elevator as the doors closed and groaned out loud at seeing a little kid in the elevator with her. And guess what? All the lights were pushed for each floor. All 129 of them. She worked on the 113th floor. As they came to a stop at each floor, she spent her time glancing at her watch and glaring at the little boy. He wasn't even older than 6 or 7. Why was he in here alone?

His big, wide blue eyes gazed up at her in wonder and she watched as his head tilted. The blonde hair that fell around his face was slightly curled at the end. "Do you know where my mommy is?"

Why the hell would she know where his mother was? Or who she was for that matter? She opened her mouth to tell him just that but found herself hesitating. Blowing her breath out through her nose in annoyance she shuffled her bag to her other arm.

"I don't know your mom kid, but I can help you look for her. Do you know what floor she works on?" little guy shook his head and she resisted the groan that threatened to spill out. It was 7:59. One minute. "Look, I need to get to my desk. Come with me and I'll call someone to come get you and find your mom. How does that sound?"

She took note of the small frown on his face, but he nodded all the same. Finally, the elevator opened to her floor and she all but rushed out. She made sure the kid was following her as she walked briskly towards her desk.

Damn it. His door was open. Hopefully he hadn't come out yet. She was just placing her bag on the floor and fixing to sit down in her chair when she heard his throat clear behind her.

"Late again Ms. Mason."

Her eyes closed briefly as she stood up straight and turned to face her boss. He was a middle-aged man with peppered grey and black hair. His stern grey eyes were boring into her own and she had to remind herself not to fidget. He hated fidgets.

"Yes, I am sorry sir." She found herself saying after a pause. "This little boy was in the elevator and he's lost his mom and I was going to help him."

Her boss's immaculate brow rose in question as he glanced around. "Where is the child you speak of?"

She winced at the disbelieving tone in his voice. Turning her body, she looked behind her and promptly froze. Where was he? There was no child standing there anymore. Flabbergasted, she took a few steps forward and looked down the hall.

"What? He was just here." She said in confusion. Wasn't he? She made sure he followed her all they way to her desk. Turning back around to face her boss, she knew her face was showing her confusion. "He was just here!"

Her boss gave an annoyed sigh and leveled his overly stern gaze at her. "So, not only are you late, you have also lost a child somewhere in the building." She couldn't help the gulp when his jaw clenched in irritation. "I don't have time for such a reckless, none punctual assistant. Call security and pack your things. I think you're done here."

Her mouth opened in disbelief and she was going to argue, but he had already turned his back on her and closed the door to his office. She fell back in her, well her once chair, in shocked silence and stared at the closed mahogany door.

Fired? She had just been fired.

All because the power went out in her apartment building, making her alarm not go off. Then she tried to be a good Samaritan and help a little lot boy, who then pulled a Houdini act on her. Her mouth shut with an audible snap and she reached over to grab the phone on her desk and made a quick call to security before reaching down and grabbing her bag and a few personal items from her desk.

She fought back the angry tears as she made her way back to the elevators. All of this on a glorious Monday morning. She pushed a few strands of her darker than black hair from her face and looked down at her outfit.

If she knew she was just going to get fired today, she wouldn't have put on this ridiculous dress. All her slacks and skirts were dirty though, so she had no choice. Maggy London's Gathered Crepe Sheath Dress in red.

Positive note? She could now get coffee.

As she set about doing just that, her phone rang loudly in her bag. Purse, whatever you wanted to call it. Pulling it out, she grimaced at the name flashing on her screen. She did not want to speak with him now. Not after catching him with her. Shaking her head of such negative, depressive thoughts. She screened the call and made her way to the coffee shop she passed earlier.

The line was reasonable now. It only took about 15 minutes before she had her steaming white mocha latte in her hands. The first sip she took had her sighing in pure bliss. She sipped her coffee as she made the ten-minute walk to her apartment complex. She was about to walk inside when a flash of yellow caught her attention.

Looking down the sidewalk, she almost dropped her latte when she spotted the little boy from earlier standing on the sidewalk looing up at the top of one of the taller buildings. With a heavy and very annoying sigh, she decided to forgo going inside her apartment and started to make her way towards the little boy.

"Hey." She called out to him. His wide blue eyes met her own and she watched as he gave her a big smile before taking off running inside the building he was staring at. What the heck?

She followed him inside and looked around the hotel lobby she was now in. Where did he go? A flash of yellow disappeared behind the door that led to the stairs and she frowned as she made her way after him. She looked up, being able to see the stairwells above and spotted him several above her. He was staring down at her.

"Help me find my mommy?"

"Look kid, I don't have time for these games. I got fired because of you." Well that wasn't necessarily true, but he didn't need to know that. The boy turned away and started to run up the steps. For some reason, she felt compelled to follow him.

She was curing herself and him as she walked up all 28 flights, in her heels. The door to the roof was open and she hesitantly opened it and walked outside. She had to climb some other metal steps and push open a metal grate before she was standing on top of the hotel.

"Kid?" She called out as she looked around. She was about to give up and go back inside when she spotted him standing on the ledge, looking down at the street below. Panic flooded her. It didn't help, that at that time, the sky cracked open and rain started to fall on them in a heavy downpour

Now, where the hell did this come from? The weather didn't report any rain today. In seconds she was drenched, and she had to squint her eyes to see his yellow jacket through the rain.

"Kid! You need to get down from there!" She had to yell out to be heard over the roaring of the wind. Slowly, he turned to face her.

"You said you'd help me find my mommy."

Nodding, she took a few steps forward. The top of the hotel had a brick wall that stood about a foot and the ledge stuck out about two feet, because a bunch of statues that lined it.

"Yes, yes I did. So, come back over here and I will help you find her." She said softly as she crept over to the edge of the wall. "Just climb back over here." She motioned for him to come to her and she bit her lip when he shook his head and took a step back, coming closer to the end of the ledge.

She could see it in this kid's eyes. He wasn't going to come to her. Damn it. The rain was still pouring from the sky, pelting her skin harshly. Her long black hair whipped around violently as she wind picked up and she watched as it pulled the kid back closer and closer to the edge.

"I can't believe I am doing this." She muttered to herself as she placed her bag on the ground and carefully, lifted her leg over the wall and place her heeled foot on the concrete ledge. She had to take a few deep, calming breathes to steel her nerves as she brought her other leg over.

She slowly turned, her hands gripping the wall behind her as she whimpered softly. This was terrifying. Utterly terrifying. Her eyes were squeezed shut as she tried calm her heart and breathing down. What the hell was she doing? This was insanity! All for some kid she didn't know!

Taylor Mason was not a daredevil! She did not do things like this! Not in her lifetime. She always took the easy road, never engaging in conflict or anything remotely terrifying.

"My god! Miss, what are you doing?"

The sound of someone shouting had her eyes snapping open and she turned to see a young security guard staring at her from where he stood by the metal gate.

"The kid!" She screamed back as her head motioned to in front of her. A look of confusion appeared on the man's face and she looked back only to gasp, her eyes widening. He wasn't there anymore. Fear and panic filled her soul as she shuffled forward unconsciously to peer hesitantly over the ledge.

"Miss!" The panic filled voice of the man had her turning to see him running towards her. She didn't realize just how close her foot had slipped to the edge when a huge gust of wind suddenly blew against them. Her heel slipped on the wet concrete and then she was careening backwards.

The security guard reached out to try and grab her hand, but it was to late. Her body had already been pushed off the ledge and she was now free falling towards the grounds below. The wind whipped around her, and she didn't even have the chance to scream as it rushed past her ears at deafening levels.

She didn't feel the cold of the rain on her body anymore or hear the screams below her at her descent towards the inevitable. The pure, unaltered fear coursing through her blood stalled as suddenly, it was all over. She didn't feel her body impact the concrete sidewalk, causing every bone to shatter instantly. She didn't feel any of it.

Worry, pain, sadness, love, joy, happiness. It all seemed to be blown away by the wind as her world went black. All she could see was the smiling face of that little blonde haired, blue eyes little boy.

…..

In a dark, ancient forest. The otherwise silent night was pierced with the sound of an other worldly swooshing. As quick as it came, it was gone. The stillness returned to forest, the trees giving a groan to the disturbance of their home. The only evidence it even occurred was the swirling of leaves as they settled back down onto the ground. Some falling onto the person now laying there. Their hair blending into the darkness, pale skin a stark contrast to the striking red dress she wore. Her feet were bare, for whatever shoes she had been wearing, were now gone.

A stream of moonlight broke free from the thick canopy of trees above to shine on her face. Whispers from above floating down to be absorbed into the flesh of her body. Her once still heart, started to beat faintly within her chest. Bones mended themselves, blood flowed back through her body.

Dark green eyes snapped open as her mouth opened to suck in precious lungs full of air. Her body shivered as the cold of the night hit her now sensitive flesh, goosebumps forming along the flesh of her exposed arms and legs.

Twenty-four-year-old Taylor Mason sat up as her eyes frantically looked around. Where was she? What happened? The last thing she remembered was falling off a building, and then darkness. Was she in a forest?

It was to dark to be able to make anything out. Other than the trees that seemed to loom over her. Coils of vaporous mist enwrapped the shaggy heads of the trees. They writhed around them like a conjuror's milky smoke, sensuous and illusory. A gloomy silence overhung the hallowed ground where the trees dared not grow. Nothing stirred, nothing shone, nothing sang. A hollow echoing, like the hushed tones of a great, slabbed cathedral, entombed the wood. The forest felt old, reeking with age.

Slowly, and on unbalanced legs, she stood. Her bare feet meeting the cool, moss covered ground. Where was she? Fear like none she ever felt before took root inside her soul. She had never been in such a dark place before, with nothing and no one.

This had to be a nightmare. Right?

Well, I want to thank you for reading. Even if this was just a short little intro. I will hopefully have the next chapter up in a couple days. Please, do leave any kind of reviews. I do take criticism as long as it is within reason and not hatefully spoken. You are all amazing.

Till next time.