A/N: Please read this note first! This first chapter unfortunately has nothing to do with Lord of the Rings or Middle-Earth, as it focuses on an event from my character's childhood to cover some back story about her. The second through fourth chapters will begin to delve more into Tolkien's Middle-Earth. She will arrive in Arda at the end of chapter 4/beginning of chapter 5. Please do not skip the first four chapters as you would be missing out on some important information for the story's progression. As you already figured, this is the genre 'Person Falls Into Middle-Earth' so if this ain't your forte, then don't read it. Simple as that. I am doing my best to make this as non-cliché and realistic as possible. This story will take place in four different parts. The genres for this are a combination of Drama/Angst/Hurt & Comfort/Adventure/Friendship/ and EventualRomance. Please note that the last one will not occur for quite some time, it will be in the fourth book of this series. I hesitate to even mention the romance as it isn't important at this point, there will be some innuendos and hints before Book 4 to satisfy somewhat your taste for this though. Also considering my main character's "issues", this is another reason for the long wait for the romance part. But I will say no more on this. This is NOT a self-insertion, Rachel is NOT me but some things about her do relate to me, while other aspects don't. Enough rambling, on with the story!

Chapter 1-The Accident

(Edited as of 10-28-11)

(Several years earlier)

"Momma! When will we get there?" ten year-old Rachel Brown asked her mother, eyes wide with impatience and excitement.

"We'll get there when we get there." her mother answered, a tad bit annoyed yet she smiled at her daughter's enthusiasm.

"But when?" the little girl exclaimed again in a shrill voice.

Her mother sighed, hands gripping the steering wheel, looking out the windshield in an effort to concentrate on the road ahead of them. "Sweetie, I know you're excited, but right now I really need to concentrate on driving. We'll get there soon, I promise."

"Hmmph." Rachel pouted, and crossed her arms over her chest.

Rachel and her mother were driving to the observatory center where the city kept some of its best telescopes. Inside the building, there was a large viewing room where they showed various astronomical slideshows and videos. A makeshift structure was sometimes set up there, where visitors could see the various representations of constellations inside the blackened vacuum-like area.

Outside the establishment was an open field where many telescopes sat in place for viewing distant stars and planets. Tall trees surrounded the area on three sides, which gave the place a somewhat magical feel. Rachel, and one or both parents would go here often, marveling at the beauty they would see through the many telescopes there. It was one of Rachel's favorite things to do and she wanted to get there as early as possible so they would get good seating.

After about a couple of minutes of more driving, Rachel started fidgeting again. Twisting around in her seat she quipped, "It's too bad Melody didn't want to come." her voice sounding sad.

Rachel's mom, still focusing on the road since it was nighttime now, the sun having just set not long ago, replied with, "You know Melody isn't into this sort of thing. Perhaps you'll find someone to befriend who shares your interest."

Rachel only made a harumph sound again through pursed lips.

Things were silent once more until the sudden squeal of tires caught Rachel's attention. A huge truck swerved seemingly out of nowhere, her mother struggling to avoid a collision course with the larger vehicle.

Only by then it was too late.

Eyes squeezed shut in fear, hands clamped over her ears in an attempt to block out the offending noise that threatened to consume her, Rachel realized in horror what was about to transpire. With a violent screech that sounded like a wailing banshee, the two vehicles crashed into each other. The last thing Rachel remembered before blacking out, was the smell of acrid black smoke-and pain. Lots of it. Rachel's world became dark for a time.

….

Over the next several days, Rachel slipped in and out of consciousness. She was vaguely aware of low voices talking in hushed tones and blurry white shapes in front of her. Rachel thought she heard someone sobbing but couldn't determine much more before the blackness consumed her once again.

….

Rachel awoke, a dull pain in her head. At first she couldn't make out much, then her vision cleared. White walls and the scent of anti-bacterial soap met her senses. Her eyes opened wider and she tried to sit up. Rachel noticed movement in the corner nearby as her mother came into view.

"Oh my little baby, you're finally awake!" her mother cried in a tone that was both relieved and thick with worry.

"Wh…..what happened?" Rachel felt extremely groggy. Only then did she notice the faint sound of a machine beeping nearby the bed where she lay. Rachel frowned in confusion. The sound seemed slightly off, as though muted somehow.

Embracing her daughter in a huge hug, her mother softly cried tears of relief and joy. "I was so afraid you wouldn't wake up."

Rachel frowned again. Something was wrong. She could only partly hear her mother. "Where am I?" she croaked.

"You're in the hospital, honey. We were in a car crash." Only then did Rachel notice her mother wearing a cast on her left leg, one arm in a sling, and a bandage on her forehead. "Someone came to our rescue and we were rushed here. You've been asleep for over a week, dear." Rachel's mom pushed a stray piece of hair out of Rachel's eyes and looked at her daughter worriedly. "I'm so glad you're awake, sweet pea."

"Mom, what's wrong with my hearing?" Rachel asked, fear evident in her voice.

Her mother looked sad for a moment, her eyes downcast. When she looked up, tears were present in her eyes. "Well, you've suffered some damage to the head." she started. Rachel strained to hear her mother's words.

"What?" she asked. For a second or two, sounds around her faded in and out. It frightened her.

Her mom's face became even more serious. Locking eyes with her daughter, she replied, "The doctors told your father and I that you underwent some trauma to the brain. The part that affects your sense of hearing." She looked down to the floor. "I escaped with only some scratches, a gash on my forehead, and a sprained arm and leg. I fear you got the worst of it."

Rachel's hand reached up to touch her head, finding it heavily bandaged in thick white wrappings. Looking down at the rest of her, she saw both her legs were covered in casts and so was her mid-section. Some angry red gashes on her arm caught her notice as well, but they appeared to be healing.

Her mother smiled, but it was not one of joy. "Your injuries will heal with time, but I fear_" she paused, then continued. "I'm sorry to tell you that the head trauma is permanent."

"What?" Rachel screeched, but couldn't hear anything out of her right ear.

Her mother looked distraught. "I'm so sorry." she whispered, taking her daughter's hands in her own. "It's all my fault."

Rachel barely heard her whispered apology.

Some silence. Then, "Where's daddy?"

Her mother wiped the tears from her eyes and told her, "He had to go to work right now, but he'll be here again soon to visit you."

After that, there wasn't much else to say. The accident had left Rachel completely deaf in her right ear. However, her hearing in the other one was fine. In the days to come, Rachel wept for her loss, although she realized it could have been far worse. She could have died. They both could have. As awful as it were, she had been lucky. Rachel may have lost half of her hearing, but at least she was alive. And so was her mother. With some regret, she realized they never did make it to the observatory. But that hardly mattered now. No doubt this incident would change circumstances some. But as the days, weeks and finally years passed, Rachel learned to cope with it as best she could.

….

A/N: Let me know what you think and don't forget to review.