THIS IS JUST TOO INTRIGUING TO ME TO NOT DO, SO I WENT FOR IT! HOPE YOU ALL LIKE THIS DIFFERENT TAKE ON WHEN ROWENA JOINED LORD OF THE RINGS! I"M TOTALLY DOWN FOR WRITING MORE IF YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED. LET ME KNOW, KAY?
GOD BLESS AND GOOD DAY!
~THE LUPINE SOJOURNER
I came up almost as soon as the lightning hit me, my chest tingling painfully, the sensation spreading quickly to my entire body before slowly dissipating as I stand myself up shakily. I stood waist-deep and am hacking up water like no one's business. Coughing is no help, but it seems I can't stop. Suddenly, I am moving and there is a strong, yet gentle pressure cupping my elbows. I am seated on the shore in moments without a clue how I'd gotten there, and when I am done coughing and spluttering, I look up to see a man wearing an odd, renaissance-type outfit, eyeing me with concern.
"I came to refill our waterskins, milady. It is fortunate I came when I did. In January, it is ill-advised to go swimming in swift rivers such as this one." I then realize just how cold I truly was. My teeth chatter and I shiver in a gust of sudden wind.
"Th-thanks. I...fell- -wait...did you say 'January'?" I ask, realizing that, as far as I knew, it was April 3rd, not January. The man frowns.
"Aye, January. Why is that troubling?" I exhale, rubbing my arms before sticking my hands in my armpits to warm them.
"Uh...last I remember, it was April 3rd." I confess, unsure of what else to do. The man swallows.
"Have you been underwater that entire time?" He asks, bewildered. I shake my head.
"I...don't think so." I give an especially violent shiver as a gentle wind steals what little warmth I'd gained since exiting the water. The man takes notice and curses himself under his breath.
"Apologies, my lady. I let my curiosity get away from my reason. Let me carry you to my camp." I begin to protest, but am quite suddenly being held, bridal style, in his strong, steady arms. The man even maneuvers his cloak to cover me as much as possible. I shiver, leaning into his chest, feeling at once warmer (especially in my cheeks; I wasn't used to being carried, and certainly not bridal style- -by a male, no less!) and slightly comforted, which is odd. He's a complete stranger. I shouldn't be this comfortable with him, but regardless, I am whisked toward a growing light, and I hear chatting, but little more, from that area. Great. He's got friends. Lots of them, from the sounds of it.
"By the by, I am Boromir, son of Denethor." I nod. Why was he telling me his father's name? Regardless, I'd probably be considered weird if I didn't do the same, so...
"I'm...I'm Rowena, daughter of Lachlan." He nods, just as we come in to the campsite.
"Your mother has a fine name." I can't help a shivery laugh.
"N-no, it's my father. Sorry, he has a weird name."
"No need to apologize. Forgive my foolishness, milady."
"It's fine, Boromir." By now, the talking all around us ceases and I am settled in Boromir's lap in what I assume was his previous spot before he'd gotten up to 'refill the waterskins', whatever that meant.
"This is the Lady Rowena. I discovered her in the Anduin when I refilled our waterskins. She is soaked to the bone and in need of warmth." Boromir announces, almost daring anyone to protest. Unsurprisingly, no one challenges him. His burly frame and fierce blue-green eyes seem to still any protests any might have had as I sit awkwardly in his lap. After a moment, he unclasps his cloak and wraps it completely around me. While it was warm, being the center of attention- -and in a man's lap!- -was not something I was used to.
"How came you to be in the Anduin, milady?" Another man (this one with shaggy dark brown hair and piercing grey eyes) asked, brow cocked. I frown.
"I'm...not sure." I muse, biting my lip. "One minute, I was out running in a storm cus I'm stubborn and didn't want to stop my run, and the next, I slipped and was struck by lightning. Next thing I knew, I'd wound up here." Boromir wraps me a bit tighter in his cloak as I continue shivering.
"You were struck by lightning?" He asks. I nod.
"Yeah. Somehow, I survived." Boromir wraps his arms a little tighter about me.
"That is no small feat, Rowena, even for men." I scowl a little at that, but keep my snarky comment in. "But...why were you running, Lady Rowena? What pursued you?" Boromir asks, arms loose but strong around my frame. I blush a little at his brazen familiarity, but smile, his question amusing me for some reason.
"Nothing pursued me. I run for exercise. It helps your...everything stay healthy." I explain, feeling suddenly exhausted and a deal warmer. Boromir then hands me a chunk of bread and cheese.
"Here, milady. You should eat. Nearly drowning drains even the hardiest of men, and I can scarce imagine what lightning took out of you." I gratefully thank him before digging in. Being a fan of cheese, I can honestly say that this was the most glorious cheddar I've ever had the pleasure of eating. But maybe I'm just hungry. 'Hunger is always the best seasoning', my mom used to say. I bite my lip.
Hopefully, she isn't running around Inverness looking for me, but who knows how long I was out? I shake myself; live one moment at a time. For now, enjoy getting warm and the cheese.
"Thank you, Boromir. And, really, you can just call me 'Winnie' or 'Rowena'. No need for all that 'my lady' business. Honestly, I'm not used to it." Boromir nods.
"As you wish, milady." I flush a bit at the Princess Bride reference, but knew, deep down, that he had no idea it was from a movie (most likely) and as such couldn't possibly know why I was suddenly nervous, so I force myself to calm down before I had to explain myself.
"So...just so I know what to call you all, who are you people?" I ask as politely as I could, still shivering subtly. The shaggy-haired man with grey eyes leans forward, bowing his head a little in greeting.
"I am known as Strider, Rowena, but my name is Aragorn." I nod.
"Pleasure to meet you." I reply. The incredibly handsome, blonde man beside Aragorn is next to dip his head. I then raise a brow as I notice the pointed ears. Was this some cosplay camping thing, or...what?
"I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm, Rowena." I smile and repeat my reply to Aragorn, setting the ear thing aside for now. The red-head opposite Legolas at the fire stands and I find that he would only stand about up to the start of my ribcage. I decide not to comment, though, as he sweeps into a small bow.
"I am Gimli, son of Gloin." I finish the bread and cheese and move off Boromir's lap and settle myself a bit closer to the fire to warm myself and shake Gimli's hand as four young boys approach and it isn't till a 'boy' with curly sandy brown hair, twinkling blue eyes, and a pleasant, rounded face grins and offers his hand that I realize these are simply tiny men, a bit like Gimli! His cheeky smile wins me over instantly.
"Meriadoc Bradybuck, at your service!" I shake his proffered hand, grinning.
"I'll hold you to that, Meriadoc." I tease, winking, before another (this one with darker brown hair, happy green eyes, and a narrower face) eagerly pushes Meriadoc aside as he shifts his feet and tells me he prefers 'Merry'.
"Peregrin 'Pippin' Took!" He chirps. I laugh and shake his hand. A third, this one slightly chubby with golden brown hair and kind brown eyes shyly steps over at Merry and Pippin's insistence.
"Hello." He greets. "My name is Samwise Gamgee, but most folk just call me 'Sam'." I clap his shoulder gently, smiling encouragingly.
"Awesome meeting you, Sam." I tell him. He smiles nervously and scoots aside for the final member to come forward. This guy has raven black hair with weary, yet striking blue eyes. I smile and shake his hand.
"Frodo Baggins." I then notice that, though the taller men had introduced themselves with their father's names or where I assume their homes are, these four little guys gave me what appeared to be last names. I frown.
"Does everyone here have a last name, or is it just these four?" I ask. Aragorn tilts his head in confusion.
"What do you mean, Rowena?" I cock a brow.
"Merry Brandybuck, Pippin Took, Sam Gamgee, and Frodo Baggins." I repeat. "They have last names. But you just told me your name is Aragorn, Boromir as 'son of Denethor', Gimli as 'son of Gloin' and Legolas 'of the Woodland Realm'. Do you have last names?" Boromir frowns.
"I suppose...not, Rowena. But you yourself gave me your name as 'daughter of Lachlan'." I nod.
"Because I felt it would be rude not to, since you had. My last name is O'Neil."
"I see." Boromir replies. "Are you from the Shire, then?" He asks.
"Where?" I reply, thoroughly confused.
"The Shire, Rowena." Pippin replies, aghast I didn't know what they were talking about. "Surely, you've heard of the Shire?" I shake my head, then something clicks. Shire, Aragorn, Boromir...Gimli...frick. Either these guys are hardcore cosplayers, or…I'm somehow in Middle Earth.
Fudge.
"I...think I have, now I think about it." I muse absently. Crud! Mom and Dad- -well, mom just yet- -would be worried sick! If I've been missing since last April...oh, Ifreann, please tell me that isn't true! "Um...where are we now?" I ask, trying not to sound as panicked as I felt.
"We are nearly nine days on the Anduin from the Falls of Rauros, milady, just outside Lothlorien." I nod. Great. I'm stuck in Lord of the Rings! I had never even finished reading the books, unfortunately, but I'd seen the movies when I was younger. My memories are fuzzy, but this is sounding more and more like I was actually somehow in Middle-Earth! Didn't...wasn't there something bad just about to happen? Like...an ambush or something? I can't remember. There was a lot of fighting in those movies.
"Cool." I reply awkwardly upon realizing I had yet to answer. "Uh...where are we going?" I ask, fearing I knew it was somewhere unpleasant and...wasn't there a volcano involved at some point?
"We are heading down the Anduin toward Mordor on a private errand, but the precise route is causing disagreement between our leaders." Frodo tells me, uttering the last part softly, nodding to Aragorn and Boromir, who shift uncomfortably. Suddenly, Gimli stands.
"I believe this has been enough talk for one night, my friends." He says. "It is time to retire for the night." Boromir stands, as well.
"I shall take first watch." He mumbles, striding to the outer edge of our camp before returning with a sleeping bag-looking thing and holding it out to me. I cock a brow. Was it really that dangerous here that we needed to guard our camp?
"You may use my bedroll for tonight, milady." I shake my head.
"Oh, no thank you, Boromir. I'll be okay, if you just lend me your cloak instead. It's warm enough." Boromir looks aghast at this.
"No, milady!" He protests. "You shall catch disease if you only have a cloak to fend off night's chill." I smile at his concern.
"I'll just sleep close to the fire, then. Trust me, I'll be fine." Boromir doesn't look convinced, but eventually sighs heavily and drops the bedroll before leaving to take up watch. I swallow, wondering exactly why we need to have a watch, but push that thought away and wrap myself tighter in Boromir's cloak and settle down as close as I dare to the fire, using the rolled-up bedroll as a pillow.
Soon enough, sleep creeps in and I sink into it's embrace eagerly.
=#=#=#=#=
"-e done with her?"
"In truth, I do not know, Boromir. There is something she refuses to tell us, something that frightens her. I wish to know what it is before I make any decision."
"By Eru, Aragorn! She's a lady, lost and alone in the Wild!" Boromir protests as loud as he dared.
"A lady we know nothing of, beyond her name and that of her father. I have never met a stranger woman." Legolas points out. "There is something...unusual in her countenance and demeanor, that much is plain. It would be prudent to gather more facts before making any kind of decision, Boromir. That does not mean that we shall leave her to her fate, necessarily." I stand, pretending to have just woken up.
"Good morning." I greet, stretching. Boromir smiles at me and I grin back, handing him his haphazardly bundled cloak and bedroll.
"I trust you slept well?" He asks politely, returning the cloak to his shoulders. I shrug.
"Well as can be expected when one is out camping."
"Are you well?" He then asks worriedly. I nod.
"Yes." He breaths out in relief.
"I feared you would take ill, mil- -Rowena." I shake my head, smiling.
"No, I'm fine." Legolas then steps forward, dipping his head in greeting.
"Pardon my asking, Lady Rowena, but...where do you come from?" I swallow, trying to think of a place I knew that would be plausible and not raise more questions.
"Oh, a small village tucked away in...the mountains." I reply.
"Which mountains?" Aragorn asks. "I know these lands well." I lick my lips. Oh, crap!
"Oh! Those ones, over there!" I say, pointing to a mountain range a deal away in the distance.
"The Misty Mountains?" Boromir asks. "I didn't know there were villages there." I take a breath. Keep calm and think of something!
"Well, we like it that way. I'm one of the few people that leave. Mostly, we're content to simply stay put."
"And what is this village called?" Aragorn presses. I can feel their eyes gauging me, so I smile.
"Inverness." I reply easily. After all, if it were a secret village, no one would doubt the title, right? Aragorn frowns, hand straying dangerously close to the hilt of a sword hooked in his belt. Whoops.
"I can tell you're lying." He growls. I take a step back.
"No, really! I am from Inverness!" I squeak, hands up defensively. It was the truth. It's just that Inverness was back on Earth, not here in Middle-Earth. Aragorn inches his hand nearer to the sword, almost unconsciously. I take another step back. I then decide it might be in my best interest to just confess and see what happens. After all, these men could easily overpower me and kill me. "I only lied about it being in the Misty Mountains. It's...on another world. I...don't know how, but I am from another world, and when the lightning hit me, I ended up here, in the Anduin." I explain. "I didn't think it was wise- -until now, that is- -to tell you all that."
"There is still more you hide." Legolas murmurs suspiciously. "Your heart races and your pupils dilate."
"Only that...you all are characters in, uh, plays and books in my world." I rush to explain. I'd really rather not be attacked by three angry men. "It's called Lord of the Rings, and I've seen the plays, but sadly haven't read the books." Aragorn frowns.
"You know how this adventure ends, then?" He asks, brow raised disbelievingly.
"I have vague, fuzzy memories only. I could only tell you story points- -highlights, really. But...if I do that, it might change what's about to happen drastically."
"How?" Boromir asks. That's a good question. I swallow.
"Well, there are choices you make, right?"
"Aye."
"You'd change your original choice if you knew it would end badly, wouldn't you?" I ask rhetorically. Boromir nods.
"Of course."
"Now, if those choices were different than they are in those books and plays...it could cause drastic changes in the timeline. Better not to risk that, right?" Aragorn sighs.
"I see your point, Rowena. I apologize for my brashness and for frightening you." I shake my head.
"No, I wouldn't have trusted me, either, in your shoes. You're okay."
"In either event, I believe I slightly overreacted." He says, dipping his head in apology again.
"Like I said, I'd do something similar in your position, Aragorn. It's okay." Aragorn sighs.
"Many thanks, milady. Now, let us rouse our companions and be on our way. Perhaps Rowena can fit in your boat, Boromir." He muses. "We used it mainly for supplies, and Merry would fit with Frodo in my boat." Boromir nods, and I swear his cheeks are a little pink, in spite of the cool air. Did men and women not share a boat in Middle-Earth? Were we breaking some kind of rule here?
Oh, well. Everyone but me is male here! We don't have a choice!