Disclaimer: The obvious are Tolkien's creations. The others are ours. We ain't making any money from this.

Authors' Note: For those die-hard Lord of the Rings fans, who know a good deal more about the history of Middle-Earth than we do, here's a few things we've changed/made up for the sake of convenience to our story.

Elladan and Elrohir's birth (Elrond's sons) occurred in the Third Age, 521. The Formation of the Council of the Wise will be made Third Age, 2340- the same year as Isumbras the First became the first Took to be Thain of the Shire.

That's it for now. Chances are this won't make a lot of sense anyway to most of you…bare with us. It's fanfiction.

We'd greatly appreciate it if you could review please, and let us know what you think.

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Three Rings to the Elven-kings under the sky,

Seven Rings to the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,

Nine to Mortal Men doomed to die

One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

From this excludes the Strangers Five,

Five Rings to the Daughters of Another Land,

Look to them and keep Hope alive,

The Sight will lend a helping hand

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

One Ring cannot beat Truth, One Ring cannot kill all,

One Ring defeats not Green, Nor shall it stop Unknown,

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

Listen carefully, listen well,

Your strengths are chosen,

For here shall tell,

Strong friends are proven.

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

******************************************************

Canberra, Australia…

  "This market doesn't look very promising," Demaia pouted, looking around. It seemed more like a country fair than a marketplace. There were many craft stalls and some food, but not much else.

  "There's more to it than you think," Elaírha retorted. "Keep walking and you'll find something decent; Riesha and I always do." Riesha was Elaírha's younger sister.

  "Yeah, we found a reasonable jewellery display, but we didn't have any money on us by the time we found it- with all our wandering, we got thirsty." Riesha added.

  "Let's go," Abigail began to physically drag the last member of their little group, Luminara down one of the rows between stands.

  "Abi- it's that way," Elaírha pointed to the aisle left several times.

  Abigail grabbed Elaírha's arm as well and dragged both her friends towards the aisle, leaving Riesha and Demaia to follow.

  "Oh, look at these!" Abigail squealed in delight. Being a die-hard fanatic of fashion and accessories, Abigail could spend her entire month's pocket money in a flash.

  "Try not to over do it this time," Luminara grinned. "Remember, you've still got to buy lunch."

  Abigail pouted childishly. "Are you saying I'm not allowed to buy anything? Not even one?"

  "That'd be my opinion," Demaia grumbled. Luminara and Demaia were Abigail's younger sisters.

  The five had become fast friends after facing the same torment at school for having 'weird' names. Demaia was the youngest of the group at 14 years old. Next came Riesha at 15, then Luminara at 16, Elaírha and Abigail being 17 years apiece. Technically Elaírha was the eldest, being several months older than Abigail, but Abigail tended to be the most dominant of the bunch.

  "Hey- that's cool," Luminara pointed out an ornate silver ring bearing a pinkish stone. "Excuse me- how much is this one?"

  While Luminara paid for her purchase, Riesha and Demaia found rings of their own liking; both silver, one with almost Celtic design around a strange blue stone and the other holding a green stone between two leaves.

  "Those are nice but have a look at this one," Elaírha held up the elaborate silver ring she had just paid for. The stone was pure jade.

  "Yikes, that must've cost a bit," Riesha remarked, handing over the money for hers to the vendor. "It being jade and all."

  "Well let's say, I'm going to be having a very cheap lunch," Elaírha admitted. "But it's worth it, I reckon."

  They turned to look at Abigail.

  "I can't choose," Abigail whined. "They're all so pretty. I couldn't just get only one…"

  "Choose, Abi," Demaia urged impatiently.

  Abigail bit her lip and looked at the selection of rings again. "This one," she decided, picking a simple but fine-looking silver ring with a black stone. She paid for it and smiled happily.

  "Well, put it on," Luminara gestured that they had all put their rings on, and that her elder sister should too.

  Abigail grinned and slid it onto her middle finger; it fit perfectly.

  The world around them turned grey, and blurred from their vision, leaving them shielding their eyes against the bright light that surrounded them.

******************************************

Tuckborough, The Shire…

  Abigail groaned loudly at the pounding in her head. "What the hell…" she complained, opening her eyes. They widened as she took in her surroundings.

  A half-normal-size door opened and a short woman walked in with a tray of cloths and bowls of hot water.

  The woman blinked at her. "Ah, you're awake," she said with a heavy accent.

  Abigail screamed. The woman stood there, staring stoutly at the girl before her. There were moans coming from the other four makeshift beds of blankets. Abigail didn't stop screaming until one of those sat up and thumped her with a pillow.

  "Thank you, Ellie," Luminara murmured.

  "How are you all then?" the short woman asked. "I was wondering when you'd wake up- if you would at all. I was quite worried."

  Elaírha looked at the woman; her carrot-coloured hair, her short height, her strange clothes and warm brown eyes. It dawned on Elaírha, making her own eyes widen. "You're a hobbit!"

  The woman looked amused. "Of course I am. What did you think I was?" She dampened a cloth and wiped Elaírha's sweaty forehead. "My name's Peony Took. I am the wife of Isumbras Took, Thain of the Shire."

  Luminara rubbed her temples. "Hobbit…Thain of the Shire…Isumbras? W-we're in Middle-Earth?"

  "In the Shire," Peony agreed, going over to the door and shouting, "Gertrude! Isabel! Nathaniel! Hurry up with those trays- they're awake!"

  Peony turned her attention to a woozy-looking Demaia. "We found you ladies on the other side of the hills near Tookbank."

  "Where are we now?" Riesha blinked dully.

  "Tuckborough- the Great Smials, to be exact," Peony replied proudly.

  "The ancestral home of the Tooks," Elaírha murmured.

  At that moment, several other hobbits entered the room, all bearing large trays of broth, bread and water.

  "Gertrude- start with that one there," Peony directed, gesturing to Riesha. "Isabel, you deal with this lady here," – pointing at Elaírha- " and Nathaniel, take care of that one there." She nodded her head towards a stunned-looking Abigail.

  "What's Middle-Earth?" Abigail whispered to Luminara, taking the bowl of broth from Nathaniel warily.

  Luminara rolled her eyes. "Tell you later," she whispered back.

  "Thank you," Elaírha said to the hobbits, taking a sip of the soup. "I had always thought hobbits didn't like strangers."

  "Most of them don't- but you ladies aren't strangers," Peony answered. Her implied statement hung in the air.

  "I'm Elaírha," she introduced herself. "That's Riesha, my little sister; that's Demaia, Luminara and Abigail. They're sisters too, but not family related to me and Rie."

  "Elaírha- an Elvish name?" Peony enquired.

  Elaírha shrugged. "I don't think it was intended to be- though don't ask what it means, I have no idea."

  Peony looked them over intently then nodded her head, obviously deciding something. "When you've finished, put the bowls next to you and rest…we'll see how you are tomorrow."

  "How did we get sick?" Demaia asked hoarsely, eating the food at a rapid rate of knots.

  Peony seemed surprised. "I don't know how- I assumed you would be able to tell us how you came to be in the Shire and so ill as well. You all had bad fevers…and you've been out-cold for almost a week."

  Elaírha exchanged glances with her friends. None of them said a word as they grateful finished off the meals given to them. Peony's three young children took the crockery and cups back, leaving the five girls alone.

  There was silence as they lay back down.

  Luminara broke out into laughter. "How cool is this," she remarked quietly. "We're in Middle Earth!"

  "Hey, do you think we can meet the Elves and Gandalf?" Riesha whispered excitedly.

  "Gandalf visits those hobbits that he befriends in the Shire- he may or may not come to Tuckborough," Elaírha commented softly.

  "Elves?" Abigail demanded incredulously. "What are you talking about?"

  "Shh!" the others hissed at her.

  "Middle Earth; you remember J.R.R. Tolkien's books?" Luminara began.

  "Vaguely…that's Lord of the Rings, yeah?" Abigail guessed blindly. "Like the movie we went to see last month?"

  "Exactly. Except that we're several hundred years before that happens," Luminara explained.

  "You mean Elves like that gorgeous blond guy in the Fellowship?" Abigail squealed.

  "Shut up!" Demaia groaned. "Yes, she means elves like that- but there's more than just him, you know."

  "Besides, depending on which source is true, Legolas might not even be born yet," Elaírha pointed out.

  "Who's Leg-less?" Abigail wrinkled her nose in distaste.

  Riesha sniggered. "Leg-o-las," she corrected. "That's the blond guy."

  "Man, what a shitty name," Abigail giggled.

  "It means Green Leaf in Sindarin," Elaírha informed her. "Given that Legolas is a Silvan Elf- or 'wood-elf' as you would know it best- I think it's quite fitting, don't you?"

  "It still sounds funny," Abigail protested.

  "This coming from the girl who thinks he's hot?" Demaia snorted. "Now be quiet and let's go to sleep like Peony said."

  "Mama's girl," Abigail muttered under her breath, but they all obeyed.

  The next day as for the most part they had recovered, Peony resolved to take Elaírha and Luminara to the seamstress in Tuckborough.

  'Ellie' and 'Lumi' as Peony called them, explaining that they was more 'hobbity' names, found it relatively difficult to move about the Great Smials- the roofs were quite low, so that Ellie with her 6ft height couldn't stand up straight without having to bend over as she walked. Luminara did little better- she had to bend her head down.

  Worse yet, whatever room they entered, there would be hobbits there who would go silent and stare at them as they passed through. Both girls tried to smile, but got no response.

  Finally out of the front door, Elaírha shielded her eyes from the bright light until her vision had adjusted. The first thing she noticed was the unbelievably green hills.

  "Come," Peony urged, noting that her guests had stopped in awe. "I dare say it will take quite some time to have you both fitted up for dresses." She eyed their jeans with distaste and they heard her mutter quietly, "Not fit to be seen as women…breeches and trousers…whatever is the world coming to…"

  Tuckborough's shops were only slightly bigger than the hobbit-hole they'd just come from, and the hobbits stared at them just as much as Peony took them about her business. The only difference was that these hobbits whispered to each other and seemed more curious than afraid.

  "Ah, Mrs Dilmore," Peony smiled. "I have two customers for you to fit up with respectable dresses today."

  "Indeed," Mrs Dilmore blinked at the two humans. With a inward breath she drew Elaírha into a back room, where numerous rolls of earthy-coloured material were stored on long shelves. "You'll need to remove your…clothes, so I can take proper measurements of you…no doubt a stool or chair will come in handy…" She left, leaving Elaírha feeling very awkward.

  Beyond the door, she could hear Mrs Dilmore ordering her helpers around and instructing Luminara similarly behind the screen they'd seen when they'd walked in.

  Mrs Dilmore re-entered the storeroom soon, carrying a chair with her. The storeroom was quite a bit taller than the rest of the shop, so Elaírha was able to stand up.

  The seamstress took one look at Elaírha who was crossing her arms, shifting on her feet uncomfortably. "Good Heavens…not even proper under garments…" she put her hand to her forehead dramatically. Taking a purposeful stance, and a determinedly look in her eye, Mrs Dilmore crisply commanded. "Arms out."

  Elaírha was immensely grateful when she was allowed to put her t-shirt and jeans on again. She emerged from the storeroom just as one of hobbit-helpers came in and pulled a large roll of dark green fabric from the bottom shelf.

  Luminara was blushing with a look of humiliation on her face. "Was it as bad for you as it was for me?" she asked quietly, under the discussions of their host and the seamstress who were arguing over cost and style.

  "Yes, possibly even worse," Elaírha replied inaudibly.

  "-done by tomorrow afternoon, I'll bring the next ones in and pick them up at the same time," Peony informed Mrs Dilmore.

  "We'll get to work immediately," Mrs Dilmore agreed.

  "Come, ladies," Peony opened the door for them. Once outside, the noise-level reduced considerably. "I have some other shopping I have to do if that's alright."

  "Sure," Luminara answered.

  By the time they returned to the Great Smials, Elaírha and Luminara were laden with cloth bags filled with vegetables, flour and other such groceries. Peony seemed delighted that they offered to help, as it meant not having to carry it home the next day.

  Intent on earning her keep, Elaírha helped Peony and the other Took wives of the Great Smials in the kitchen doing the minor jobs they that would give her, leaving Luminara to be interrogated by their sisters.

  When the lights were all put out, and all in the adjoining hobbit-holes of the Great Smials were in bed with full bellies, the five human girls talked.

  "Wow, and she like just bought you clothes and all?" Demaia enquired. Of them all, she was the only one to remain sick. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes and nose were red, and she coughed often.

  "I couldn't believe it- I mean, I thought hobbits would scream and run away at the sight of us, let alone help us this much!" Elaírha agreed, keeping her voice soft. "I mean, the hobbit-women didn't seemed to mind me being in the kitchen at all."

  "I think we should plan a future here," Luminara said.

  They were all silent.

  "It would be best- we have no idea how we got here, or how to get home, and for the moment I don't mind being a part of this world at all," Luminara continued in practical tone. "If we can help out with chores here and perhaps try to find some paid work so that we can build a hobbit-hole for ourselves- but bigger of course- then I don't think we'd have to rely so much on Peony…she's been very kind to us indeed, but I don't want to abuse the chances she is giving us."

  Her calm reason met more silence.

  At last, Elaírha spoke. "As crazy as it sounds being said aloud, I think it's a good idea. Peony- and indeed, many of the hobbits- they are willing to give us a chance…at living. Best of all, living among them…I don't know about you, but I would prefer a short lifetime living among these honest and cheerful people than I would eternity among the world of Men in Middle Earth."

  "Agreed," Riesha replied quietly.

  "Sounds like an idea to me," Demaia commented. "Abigail?"

  "Well, actually, I wouldn't mind an eternity with men, but I definitely think these people are going to be the ones who know how to have fun," Abigail decided.

  "The vote is unanimous," Luminara declared, before they all closed their eyes to rest for another day.