Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the languages spoken in the books or movie. I do own Nicole, Susan, Jake, their parents, Matt, and Bill.

Author's Note: Starting all over again. I've had it on my to do list since… well forever. And now I'm getting to it. Blame TangoNova. Hey, if she can come back, so can I!

Chapter 1

Three lost souls in a barren waste land.

Three lost souls waiting for life in the most eventful age of their time.

Three lost souls wasting the most precious gift of all.

Life.

Nicole sat in her tiny windowsill, looking out into the campus. She was supposed to be at her biology class right now, but as usual, she skipped.

"Guess I'll just fail and take it over again," she said, stretching her arms. Nicole was fortunate. Her dad was on the board of directors of her college, and also the CEO of his own law firm. Money wasn't a problem, and neither was getting expelled. She and her friends had the easy life; watching the poor, working ants struggle while they basked in the sun and their music.

Susan, her roommate and best friend, was currently practicing her bass guitar in her desk chair. Susan had a similar outtake on life. Her father was another one on the board of directors and prestigious doctor at the local hospital. Susan, unlike her father, wasn't as concerned about her pre-med major as she should be. She was more concerned about her pride and her bass.

Nicole looked down and saw Jake approaching their dorm. Jake was her cousin and son of the president of the college. His father expected so much out of him. So far Jake had given him two DUIs, assault, and battery. It was a nice start for a pre-law major. No one knew why Jake was like that, but Nicole and Susan loved him none the less.

Jake came into the room without saying a word and plopped himself on Nicole's bed. Nicole simply said hello by looking his way, and turned back to looking out at the campus.

Their parents were best friends since college, so it was only natural that their children became friends. However, unlike their parents, they were outcasts. They didn't rush, they didn't join any clubs or sports, and they didn't even participate in class.

Dressed in nothing but black 24/7, they only had each other and their music. During middle school, they had formed a band named "Virgin Sacrifices." Nicole was guitar and vocals, Susan, bass, and Jake, drums.

"So when's practice?" asked Susan without looking up from her bass.

"Gig's Saturday, so not till Friday," Nicole simply put, not taking her eyes off the frat boys playing Frisbee. She slowly rose from her seat, stretching like a cat after a nap. Both girls were about 5' 4'' with lean bodies. Nicole had long brown hair that reached her butt that was braided into a million braids. It was a tad oily and stiff since she didn't bathe often, but she didn't stink and at least her skin was always clean. She was wearing a black tank top and black cargo pants, her traditional outfit.

Susan had blonde hair that reached her chin, but she had bleached it so much that it was more white than blonde. In contrast to her hair, she wore tons of dark eye make-up that gave her raccoon eyes. Her trade marks were chains and zippers. Wearing a black skirt that was loaded with zippers, black knee boots with silver buckles, and a t-shirt draped in chains, Susan looked like a chained linked fence.

Jake was like Nicole, minus the whole girl thing. He wore just a simple black t-shirt and black cargo pants with skater sneakers. Jake was very fit compared to most his age, and knew how to throw a mighty punch. He had short, black hair that was spiked with his own oil. The group in general wasn't big on personal hygiene.

"I'm going to get something to drink, yall want anything?" Nicole asked, slipping on a pair of flip flops.

"Yeah, get me something with caffeine," said Susan, tuning her bass for the fifth time.

"Decaf latte. Got it. Jake, you want anything?" Jake had never spoken much, not even to his best friends. Nicole walked up to her bed and looked him in the face.

"You wanna coke?" Jake looked up from his book and shook his head. Nicole nodded and grabbed her wallet and keys.

As she walked across the campus grounds, Nicole began to run possible new lyrics through her head. In the group, she wrote the lyrics, Susan wrote the music, and Jake kept the tempo. It was a fairly organized system, which allowed corporation and balance. The last time any of them had a fight with each other was in third grade when Susan stole Nicole's bike.

They never treaded into each other's personal space, but it wasn't like they had anything to hide from each other. Nicole and Susan told each other everything, from music to parents to politics to even the most spontaneous questions imaginable. Jake would put down everything, hold his friend in his arms, and listen to her bitch about the world as he wiped her tears. Who knew that a criminal could be so caring? Jake was always silent and protective, but Susan was always loud and assertive. Nicole was a blend between the two, like the spokes person of the trio.

'Black souls… no… Something about empty hearts… no…' Out of the corner of Nicole's eye, she saw one of the frat boys throw the Frisbee toward her. She turned to face him and caught the toy with ease, giving the owner a death glare. It was Matt.

Matt Thompson was the complete opposite of Nicole. He was president of his fraternity, president of SGA, captain of the football team, and not to mention star quarterback. Nicole's father and mother had often tried to set them up on dates, but Nicole would have none of it. This gave Matt incentive to mock her.

"Ah geez, now I have to get a new Frisbee. This one's covered in oil," sneered Matt as his gang of imbeciles ganged up behind him.

"Matt, what did I tell you last time? If you want a blow job, you're going to have to go to the street corner and pick up a hooker, like every other bastard in this college. So please stop trying to grab my attention with your little toys," replied Nicole while shoving his Frisbee into his stomach.

Nicole turned around only to meet the rest of the fraternity glaring at her. She balled up her fists in separated her legs so that she was ready. She wasn't a fighter like Susan and Jake, but she wasn't going to let these guys touch her. No one touches her.

"Ah, but babe, you know I like you the best," stated Matt in a sweet tone. He took one step towards Nicole, but was suddenly whipped around by Jake. Jake right hooked him, knocking him to the ground while the rest of Matt's frat boys ran away. Susan came out from behind Jake and pressed her foot into Matt's groin.

"What did we tell you last time, Thompson?" yelled Susan as Matt screamed like a girl. "Leave us alone. Not just a group, but as individuals as well, GOT IT?" Matt gave another yelp, and leapt up as Susan took her foot off of him.

"Ah geez, now I have to get new shoes. These are covered in an assortment of STDs."

Nicole laughed as Jake glared at Matt's retreating form.

"You okay?" asked Susan with a concerned look.

"Yeah, I'm fine. They didn't touch me." Despite the makeup, Nicole could see the concern in Susan's eyes. "Susan, really, I'm fine." Susan nodded her head.

"Okay, well, after all that, now I'm hungry. Let's get some grub." Susan led the way, while Nicole walked with Jake. She gave him a soft elbow in the arm, causing him to look down. Nicole gave a quick smile, and Jake responded by ruffling her hair. They quietly walked the rest of the way, basking in the light of the setting sun. Nicole always like dusk, for dusk led to night, and night meant the stars, the moon, and the mystery of the dark.

In a land far away, another group was leaving their home by the light of the setting sun. The riders broke into a gallop as they set off to the northwest for Rivendell. The leader of the group looked to the west, watching the sun say its final goodbye. He never liked dusk, for dusk led to night, and night meant evil creatures, screams that pierced the silence, and the mystery of the dark.