There were times when I thought I was different. Odd, or strange might be a better word. This was because I had a massive love for the Lord of The Rings. I read the books, watched all of the movies, and still felt like there was more to discover.
I would go about my daily routine as if nothing was ever going to change. I grew bored and tired of it. Though I did often look forword to going to the shooting range and learning archery. I never felt like I was in the right place. I felt as though everything was just passing me by, leaving me aside.
It was a Saturday afternoon, and I decided to go on a walk in a small wood next to my neighborhood.
With the sun warming my back, I strode through the long grass to get to the trees. It was odd. Everything was quiet, when usually on a nice day like this, there would be many people out with their dogs or kids. I continue on to my favorite spot. There is a creek with an opening in the trees above, letting the sun shine down and reflect on the current of the water. I sat down and watched it flow endlessly. Suddenly, I saw something. Something in the water seemed to be glowing, and I could not take my eyes off it. I was starting to be drawn to it, when someone rode past me on a dirt bike, pulling my gaze away from the water, and me out of the trance. When I look back, it's gone.
I decided to walk around for a bit, until I felt another yearning to go back to the creek. When I do, I see the same glowing object in the water. I walk towards the edge, when before I even know what has happened, I find myself surrounded by water, and sinking. But my last thought was that I couldn't remember the water being deep enough to even come up to my knees.
I struggle for air. I try to swim to the top, but I feel as though all strength has been pulled from me. I start to lose consciousness, when I feel strong hands grab me and pull me from the water.
I come out sputtering water, trying to breath in air, but instead I keep coughing. Finally, I start to breath again. I try to look up, but another coughing fit took hold of me. When I look at my surroundings, something is different. I realize where I am almost immediately.
"Are you alright?" said a kind, but stern voice. I realize who that voice belongs to.
"It cannot be" I say between coughs. I recognize the man standing before me, with dark hair that grows to the shoulders, with a strong and sturdy build, and soft gray eyes.
Then I see what is standing behind him. Four small men, which could easily be mistaken for children. I recognize every one of them by name. For this is a dream that I have always wished to live.
"From where do hail from?" said the man.
I decided to at least try to explain how I got here, which im still not sure of myself.
"I don't know how I came to be here. I was walking in a small wood, when I fell into a creek, and when I surfaced I found myself here."
With that, I began shivering uncontrollably. My long, golden brown hair is dripping along with my soaked clothes, which I soon realize are different than what I was wearing when I first left home. I try so hard to stop, but it keeps getting worse.
"You are unwell" said Aragorn. I could see the slightest of concern in his eyes.
"No, I am fine. I am only shaken up a bit." I say as I attempt to stand. But it was in vain, for I only was able to hold myself up for only a moment before I found myself falling, only to have strong arms save me from the impact.
"You must sit and try to recover" said Aragorn.
"No, I will be fine." I insist. "Although, I must ask you something. I have no idea where I am, much less how to get home, if there were even a way. May I travel with you and your companions?"
Aragorn looks uncertain at this question, and I'm not sure he is going to agree at first until he replies, "I would never leave a helpless maiden in the wild alone. Especially with the danger that lerks. You may accompany us to Rivendale."
i instandtly feel relieved at this, though I do not like being thought of as a helpless maiden. For I know what perils they are to face on the way to Rivendale, but I should just keep my mouth shut and not let them know. The last thing I want to do is change the story, at least any more than my being here does.
"I thank you very much. For I do not know what I would have done." I reply.
"Come. We must continue on. Though I believe I still do not know your name."
"Oh, yes. My name is-"Im not sure if I should say my real name or not. I haven't decided on that yet. "-Alana. My name is Alana. Now I believe I still do not know yours?" Even though I knew very well who he was, I didn't want to raise any sucpusions.
"I am called Strider. Come. Meet my companions. This is Sam, Merry, Pippen, and Frodo."
"It is very nice to meet all of you." I say.
"ay, you too miss" Pippen replies.
The others mutter in agreement.
"well I believe we shall keep moving. Come on." Strider urged us on.
We walked for the rest of the day. I couldn't figure out how far Strider and the hobbits already were in their journey, nor how long it would be until we meet peril. Strider walks ahead of us all, keeping alert and never slowing. The hobbits have more trouble keep up than I, nearly running.
It is later when it is dark when I see the stones of Weathertop, and we approach it.
"I will return soon. Stay here, and do not make yourselves known." Strider said to us.
He quickly walks away, leaving us alone. Sam is still very sucpicious of Strider, I remember, and he keeps voicing that opinion.
Suddenly, there was a shadow. And another. Soon, we all saw five tall dark cloaked figures approaching us with impossible speed.
"It's the black riders!" Shouts Frodo. I feel cold dread and fear down my spine and fill my entire body. I fall to the ground, not being able to handle the shrieks of the creatures. At this point, I am not sure as to whether or not I should fight. I don't want to change the outcome of the story. Even though it hurts me, Frodo must get stabbed by the morgul blade. The hobbits grab whatever they can for a weapon. I see Frodo roll the ring through his hand, unsure of what to do. That is when he vanishes, and the Wraith stabs him. I can hear his shriek of pain. I wish so much to help him. But I know that is not going to happen now.
Strider runs up to Frodo, surrounded by the other hobbits frantically trying to comfort him. He lifts up the hilt of the broken blade as it disappears and states, "He's been stabbed by a Morgal blade. This is beyond my skills. He needs elvish medicine. Keep him by the fire. Keep him warm. I must go find something that may save him." And with that, he runs off.
Not too long, he returns with a plant in his hand I recognize as atheles. He chews it and places the pulp in frodos wounded shoulder. He lifts him and places him on Bill the pony. We don't walk far until we hear the hooves of a horse galloping, becoming nearer and nearer. It is then that an elf riding a beautiful horse arrives out of the trees. I am captivated by her beauty. The movies do not do a justice for the true beauty of elves. In one swift motion she dismounts and approaches Frodo.
"He is fading. We must get him to my father." She picks him up and places him on her horse. Aragorn and she exchange a few words before she gallops off. We can here the screaches of the black riders in the distance, from the same direction she left.
"What are you doin'?! Those Wriths are still out there! Shouts Sam.
"there is nothing else we can do now, sam. We must trust Arwen to keep him safe."
I try to comfort him.
"Alana is right. They will be fine." Agreed Aragorn. I see him looking at my questionly, as to how I know what the lovely elf's name was. I evenly meet his gaze, only for him to look away and say "Come. We must make haste."
We continue to walk across the landscape. I can tell we are nearing rivendale when suddenly I hear something. And Aragorn seemed to hear it to, as he said "Do not make a sound. There is something evil afoot,"
With that, a couple of arrows fly past us, narrowly missing aragorns head. I look in the trees and see three large, nasty creatures I instantly recognize as orcs. With great speed and agility, Aragorn pulls out his bow and shoots once, killing one of them. "Get back! All of you!" I yell to the hobbits.
"Alana!" they shouted for me. But I didn't know why until the pain came. A sharp, strong agony took my right shoulder, and I just stoof rigid while I looked at the arrow protruding from it. I fall to the ground in shock. "Strider!" the hobbits shouted. I watched as he killed the remaining orcs that were now upon us. I stand with any strength I have left and slash at one that is coming up from the side. It is enough of a wound to make it fall.
I then collapse to the ground, stifling a groan of pain. Aragorn rushes over to me and observes my shoulder.
"Aragorn, are they gone?" I manage to cough out.
"Yes. They are gone. I believe it was only a scouting party. For I have seem many as of late." He speaks as he pulls out a cloth of some sort and places it in my mouth.
"Bite on this. I am going to remove the arrow." All I can do is grunt in agreement.
With a swift, but no painless movement, he pulls it it out as I scream out in agony. I have never really been injured before. And this is even worse. Tears are gathering in my eyes as he puts pressure on the wound.
"Is she going to be alright?" asked Merry. The hobbits looked at her with great concern in their eyes. I wither in pain and discomfort. Aragorn then pulled down the sleeve to my shirt, but only enough to tend to the wound. I try to only focus on his eyes as he cleans and examines it. He binds it with some cloth and helps me to my feet.
"we are not far. We will make haste so you may be properly healed." He said. Then we made for rivendale. The pain has turned into a dull throb as we continued on. It is when we see the House of Elrond when I start to feel very dizzy. Everything around me seems to be spinning. I start to stumble often, only to be stabled by Aragorn.
He sofly asks me, "How did you know me by that name?" I then realize that earlier I used his real name, when he never spoke of it.
"That Is something I cannot tell you until I have spoken with Elrond." I reply. He looks at me with suspicion in his eyes. I believe he would have inquired more, if I did not lose my balance yet again and fall to the ground. I jostle my sholder just enough for they pain to greatly increase. I try to stand, only to collapse again, but this time into his arms.
"Alana, what is wrong?" he asks me. He looks at my wound, to find that it has become blackened around the edges of it. Concern grows in his eyes as he rewraps it and lifts me into his arms to where he is practically cradling me.
'We must hurry." He starts into a bit of a run with the hobbits hard behind him. I watch as everything goes by in a blur. It is dark, most likely the middle of night when I realize that we are approaching the doors, and when we are inside, an elf approaches us.
"Mae govann." Aragorn greets him. "She was shot by an Orcen arrow." I don't hear when he adds more quietly, "I fear the worst"
that is when I could no longer handle the pain, and I start to lose my grasp on reality as I am taken in another's arms and start to slip out of consciousness.