"Quoted Italics" is the Elvish language

Regular Italics is Amy's thoughts

I own nothing.. I'm broke

Amy woke up on a beautiful summer day. The sun was shining and overwhelming her tired eyes, the birds were singing a merry little tune outside, she could hear the warm breeze bustle through the leaves in the tall magnificent trees. Some far off music was playing pacifying her nerves somewhat, making her feel too lazy to stir just yet.

Everything was lovely, however, it didn't do a whole lot to lift her spirits. She always had fatigue issues, random prickly pains here and there, headaches (she never had them in her life), and problems with eating and sleeping when she needed to. She would suddenly be starving on some occasions only to sit down to eat and find herself nauseous. And she most definitely wasn't pregnant, NO, although she had a healthy sexual appetite that was sometimes a bit too much (contradicting her issues with lack of energy by the mile, throwing everyone who knew for a loop.. which was everyone to her dismay). After six years of doctors and testing everything in the book, she had enough and focused on just trying to sleep and eat more and regularly. Her weight went up to a healthy size, for her short stature, and her energy became a little more consistent.

But it wasn't to be.

This year it all came crashing down. This year.. she bid her family farewell on an unfortunate short notice and woke up as Amrylea in a strange new world.

Amy POV (rest of the story unless otherwise noted)

I woke up slowly to the sensations around myself, not remembering having left the hospital or going out to such a beautiful park to lie down on a cold stone slab, surrounded by trees and strange stone buildings. The sounds of gushing waters never ceased. I never recalled there being a park remotely like this one in Eastern Massachusetts.

Where am I..? I wondered, slowly sitting up, stretching, and proceeded to look around carefully. Could this be.. Rivendelll?

"Who is she?"

"Where did she come from..?"

"I will go call the guard."

Whispers in the background made my hairs stand on end before tall ethereal figures emerged in my line of sight, one of them approached, "Hello, young one. Are you lost?"

My eyes grew large at the words. And at his face. I know that face. Or at least I think I do. Crap, what's this guy's name again? Urghhh, I know this one! Linda? Linder? Do they know Westron..? Do I even know it?! I knew I should have paid more attention to the other character's names in Lord of The Rings or The Hobbit. GOD KNOWS after spending way too much time reading so many ridiculous (and ridiculously good) fanfictions.. instead of doing chores. Ooops.

WAIT A MINUTE..

"Ah-! You're a girl. I mean a human. Well, human girl, to be more precise, ahh!" He started to ramble but hastily lunged at me, making my arms come over my breasts in case he was a closet psycho pervert Tolkien forgot to mention in his description of him.. or his twin. Whoever this is.

"Whatch-it, buddy!" I screamed but nothing touched me. I poked up head up from my squinty cowardly crouch and saw that he was actually not that close to me but had leaned in with his arm stretched towards me. I looked down to see just where that hand was placed only to find, in mild shock, his hand grasped over.. "My GUITAR?" It came with me. Huh.

"Umm, y-yes, ha ha." He didn't know how to respond to my reaction, but being an elf he was destined to play it off all smooth-like, like all his elf buddy pals. Riiight. He recovered from catching my instrument before it completely fell off my lap and crashed on the stone ground.

"Oh. Thanks.." I held my hand out as I stood to take it back when a wave of nausea hit me like a brick wall. I stumbled forwards with my hand over my mouth, feeling extremely dizzy and weak. His other hand expertly caught me mid-fall, giving me a prop to let the feeling subside.

Making sure I was alright, he slowly released his grip on my arm. He went to ask if I was alright but was cut off by his father rounding the corner to confront my unexpected arrival.

"Elrohir, go find your sister, my son. I will handle our unusual 'intruder' from here."

By golly I know this guy, too! Wow, I got his son's name way wrong. Who is Linder?! Or was it Lindir?

"L-Lord Elrond." I stammered after some thought, his eyebrows lifted at having known his name. It felt weird, like really weird calling someone by a name I usually kept locked up in my fantasy world. NO, I didn't fantasize him in that way. Okay maybe once.. in here, and a few times in the Matrix in THAT character (not the actor, per-se). Even though he's aged a bit since the movies (yeah a lot), and some odd reason I am fatally attracted to guys.. much older guys. Sometimes Eowyn. Come on, you know you like her, too.

"You seem to know me, yet I am disadvantaged to not know yourself. Or your presence here and unannounced."

"AMY," I accidentally spat out, "You can call me Amy for short, or Amrylea as my given name. This is a lot for me to take in right now but Rivendelll is gorgeous in person! I have no idea how I got here but I'm glad I did." I then mumbled to the side 'Oh my god, what is wrong with me. I think I've finally lost it.' He chuckled, having heard me, which made me relax slightly. Perhaps he wouldn't consider me as much a threat now?

"Miss Amrylea, I believe it is safe to say you are lost. Have you traveled by yourself and got lost along the way? Are there others we should search for?" He added the last bit with more urgency at the prospect.

"No! There are no others, fortunately. Um, it's actually rather strange how I got here." I can trust him with this information, right? It's not like he can throw me out.. right? "Also, how I got here has something to do with how I know you.. actually, I sort of know a lot about Middle Earth. Like, what has happened and what will happen, just not exact details. You won't kick me out, right? Hehe?"

He just stared at me like a stupidly easy puzzle that he somehow couldn't solve. Trust me, I know the feeling.

"Not today, miss Amrylea, but it would be wise to not push your luck." With that he turned and started to walk off, noticing his daughter was about to arrive.

"WAIT ELF LORDY-Gah!" I'm not good at this at all, it seems. He halted any further steps, and turned around in place. His patience seemed wearing thin. Yeah, can't relax anymore.

I took the opportunity to walk back up to him and ask in an urgent whisper, "Could you tell me.. ehhe, what year this is?"

"You mean what age this is." He corrected. Fist palm. "It is the Third Age 2941." My jaw dropped and for an entirely different reason than you think.

"O-kay then.. Remember I said I'm not good with details? That's just it. I don't know what you guys do to track time or year or age, I just know that where I'm from, it's 2017 no first, second, or third age about it. Heck, let's just say I'm from a different world, since that's all I can compare it to-" I paused looking at his hand that slowly raised to kindly interrupt me.

"Have you perhaps fallen and received a head injury?" I narrowed my eyes in response. This isn't going anywhere. And I'm turning into a damned Mary-Alright-Sue my ass and get over it. I have to ask better questions and get to the point already..

"Let's try this! Have you met or heard of Frodo?"

"Fro-do.." He tried

"Bilbo?"

"I know not of these names."

"Bofur, Bifur, Oin, Gloin, Gimli, Thorin, Legomance, Aragorn, Gimli, wait I said that already, Bombur, Baggins, Bag-End, The Shire, Anything?!" I was heaving out of breath, lot good those singing lessons did!

He held up his hand again, "Slow down, I am growing weary of your confounding questions and have much more important things that need my careful attention. I will have my daughter Arwen here," He said earnestly welcoming her to come out of hiding, "and find escort you to some food and comforts. You will be called upon for questioning after some rest.. in our healing chambers." He added the last line under his breath.

I gaped but couldn't respond in time to his back turned while Arwen decided now was a good time to drag me away.

I wasn't expecting any of what was coming next, although I honestly should have and deserved everything I had coming to me for being so thick headed. I put my fellow Tolkien fans to shame, I really do (no quoting Bofur intended.. even a little bit).

Arwen dragged me cautiously to a nice little room with a bath inside. I say dragged because I was no better than a little kid in a toy store who wanted to stop to touch and look at every little thing we passed. By the time we got inside I had started to feel a bit winded and had to put my hands on my knees to catch my breath. Arwen watched me skeptically, wondering if there was something wrong with my health or stamina, but she quickly cast it aside, perhaps I was on the tail end of a hectic journey and somehow forgotten.

Within a short time Arwen had drawn me a small warm bath with some basic necessities and a dress. A dress. I don't do dresses. Did I ever mention I'm androgynous? I have short curly hair for crying out loud. And I'm surprised I didn't get any dirty looks for dressing like this. Mid thigh shorts, a torn up mustard tank (you can see my bra through it, oops. I suck at dressing myself, shut up), no shoes at all and a light gray Red Sox baseball cap I bought at Target. The only hat I own that I wear for every occasion because I want to. Oh and I apparently brought my classical guitar because that's far more necessary than my comfy slip on shoes. I stubbed both toes about nine times being gently dragged by Arwen. It's not her fault, I'm horribly clumsy. My hair is light brown and my eyes are very hazel (Green/Blue with golden brown in the middle), I'm 5'0" at 120 lbs (yay!), and I will share the rest as I go, huzzah!

I waited. And waited. I cleared my throat and eyed the door suggestively. Arwen just looked at me trying to figure out what I was implying before she spoke.

"Would you like me to help-"

"No, thank you very much. There's the door, dearie!" I said as I politely ushered her out before shutting the door in her face. I'm not much of a people person.

In my bath I had time to really think. What did happen? Isn't there a portal, a secret door, a life changing and or/threatening experience or simply death to grant someone access to Middle Earth, our beloved Tolkien's worlds? Knowing my health was waning didn't help me try and figure out my predicament. All I remember was playing guitar and then out of nowhere I felt extremely tired. Deathly tired. My hands shook as I attempted to wash my hair in contemplation. Thank goodness it was short and easy. I hate baths. Yuck.

About an hour later there was a gentle knock at my door. I don't like these situations. I'm butt naked and now someone wants to talk with me. Great.

"YES." I don't ask, I just shout in a flat tone. Not afraid of showing when something displeases me. What's the point in hiding it? It's just mussed up feelings and miscommunications and then having to delicately explain everything until you're best friends again with that person you just met that morning.

"Have you finished your bath?" Arwen asked in a soft voice. I think I scared her. "It's been a long hour, the water will turn cold. You must get your rest before you hurt yourself, I noticed you seemed dazed." Poor thing had no idea that's normal for me these days.

"Oh, alright, alright.." I relented.

Arwen waited patiently for me to climb out and dry and dress myself, now certain I was a person of privacy. Unfortunately for me, she didn't have to wait long when a loud crash resounded in the room, effectively startling the little princess. She let herself in, quickly closing the door behind her, and came to the aid of a sopping wet short haired girl face down on the floor. I had a thing for my dramatic exits, what can I say?

Slowly opening my eyes for the third time today (if you include my morning on Mother Earth), I saw that I was in an Elven nightgown in a comfortable bed by the window, which lovingly displayed the shining stars of the night. I would have appreciated it if I hadn't experienced some of the things that have happened to me leading up to this whirlwind of a day I thought was only possible in my dreams and fanfiction stories. Groaning loudly, I rolled over to my side and stared at the very dark near empty room.

I'm glad I don't always remember things when they happen. Like dramatically passing out naked on the floor of the bathroom.. soaking wet, then being man-handled (elf-handled?) by a stranger I actually know quite well, as she dried and dressed me and re-dragged me to this cozy room, for example. At least I hope she was the one who did that (CRINGE). But when I awoke I did gain a hint of memory as to how I got here. It was a blow to my stomach. I had, in fact, died. The memory came to me in the strange dream I had of my last moments on earth. I wasn't feeling very good that day. I had unrelenting waves of exhaustion, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, and all hell under the sun that could be thrown my way. I was breaking down. I took my medications like the good girl I tried to be, I ate well and avoided foods that made me sick, I did everything right!

I was feeling a bit upset by that point and needed a distraction. I sat down on my front porch, alone at home as the independent 28 year old that I am (shut up), and started picking at some of my favorite songs on my guitar. I love that thing. The sounds are just so beautiful. In all honestly this guitar makes the most beautiful notes out of all other classicals I have tried and it's only a Fender! It's also a bit older than me, and I've had it for over 14 years now. So I started to practice, again. I was getting into some of the songs but didn't have enough energy to sing to them and eventually I was too tired to even play the more simple songs I made myself.

I could physically feel my body shutting off bit by bit, the last to go was my breathing. I don't know how I know this, or even how to tell you the experience (maybe if you have sleep apnea and you caught yourself doing this falling asleep?) but as my eyes slowly closed and I laid my head down and I felt my automatic breathing reflex just stop on me. What made that weird was that it didn't even bother me. It's almost the same as gently holding your breath but you fall asleep before you remember to manually breath again. The next thing you know, I woke up here.

There you have it. I died.

What you don't have, or know, I should say, is that I still feel crummy. What a horrible heaven! I'm grateful I didn't die of blunt force trauma to the head. I couldn't imagine showing up in Rivendelll with blood squirting all over everyone and still trying to ask Lord Elrond if he knew who Legomance was. Yeahh.. I did ask him that, huh. I was tired. I blame every mistake and very stupid mistake on my being tired.

Inner-mind-meltdown over, I turned over again and noticed it was happening again. Insomnia is a bithitch. You heard me right. I remembered the advice my step mother gave me about falling asleep some time ago. She said, "Can't sleep? Don't fight it, or else you'll rest enough to not be able to fall asleep. Try to fall asleep when your body is ready to." I'm not even sure if this is sound advice but I hate trying to sleep when I'm wide awake, so up I go!

I steadily got out of bed and looked around for any sign of my other-worldly clothes, hoping Arwen didn't feel terribly disgusted by them to not try and incinerate them at the first chance. AHHA! I threw them on with pleasure. And tip toed my naked feet to the door. You'll have to kill me to wear a dress here. Even in mother-bloody Middle Earth.