Temperance Chapter 1:
'Senia hadn't been one to seek adventure or go looking for trouble; she didn't expect to have an exciting life and didn't truly want it. She sought to finish her degree in computer engineering and to work for a company like Google or Microsoft. Her ambitions didn't send her into day dreams. She was by all definitions an unambitious girl. She didn't think of herself as any sort of athlete or artist. She was good with math she liked being able to type HTML and C++ and have it create something as wonderful as a program.
If someone asked her friends they would describe her as an overly kind person who was almost always happy. She was a loyal confidant to their troubles and sang whenever the mood caught her. She loves music and though she is no great singer she seemed to have a song for just about every occasion…'
"Senia! Stop writing that application paper and come out with us!" Rachel a rambunctious blond with the mentality of a six year old said with a smile. I looked up from my lap top and smiled saying.
"I need to get this done. I'll go next time I promise." I turned back to my computer about to start typing the college application essay once more when Rachel grabbed my arm and dragged me from the swivel chair I sat in moments ago.
I fell to the ground dragging Rachel down with me, who decided that she would rather land on me than the floor. I yelped as she sat her butt on my stomach.
"Rachel! Get up I can't breathe!" I gasped out trying to catch my breath as Rachel made a fake offended face and said.
"Are you calling me fat? I'll show you!" She said with a broad smile then proceeded to plank me. Had we been anywhere but our high school people would have looked at us awkwardly. Though for us it was common enough to see Rachel take part in the popular ritual of lying on things.
"Are you two done being premarital together and ready to go?" Duncan asked with a smile, he was our closest guy friend. Though from what I could guess he was the only guy that could put up with Rachel's untamed enthusiasm.
"Duncan! Help! I'm going to die!" I stretched my hand out towards him in a plea for help though the smile on my face and laughter bubbling up in my throat told of no need for rescuing. Regardless he considered the plea for help then grabbing Rachel around the waist lifted her off me enough that I could crawl out from under her. Then he dropped her, Rachel gave a yelp of protest as she realized he wasn't actually going to pick her up.
"You're being such a meanie Duncan!" Rachel whined rolling over to lay on her back looking up at us.
"You know that you shouldn't plank Senia. She is too small, you could actually crush her."
"I'm not that heavy." Rachel pouted, I rolled my eyes and closed my laptop and put it in my backpack. Saying as I nudged her with my foot.
"I'm five foot three. You are a six foot super model. You have the boobs and butt to crush me." Rachel smiled at that, she wasn't actually a model, though she was auditioning for several minor rolls in ads to supplement her carrier instead of going to college.
I smiled back, and though I would never admit to it, I was infinitely jealous of her beauty she looked like a Barbie doll and seemed to never get a zit. Next to her my plane looks were made even worse. My hair was the color of mud and my eyes the color of pea soup, my skin was two shades too light and my face almost always sported a zit across my forehead.
"Are we going out or what?" Duncan asked and Rachel nearly bounced up.
"Yes! Yes we are!"
"I have to get my applications finished they are due next week." Duncan and Rachel each grabbed one of my arms and said in near unison as they pulled me out of the library and towards the schools parking lot.
"Not on your birthday." Rachel seemed to think that more persuasion was needed and continued on.
"It is your eighteenth birthday and you want to spend it writing essays. We as your friends have an obligation to make you have fun today. School is done and it is time for you to have fun. Besides it's not like we are going anywhere too scandalous."
"Don't let her scare you we are going to do bumper cars at the arcade."
It had gotten dark early as it was February and driving in the winter had always made me nervous though I trusted Duncan to drive, I didn't trust Rachel. Who, was now driving. I sat in the back seat and hummed a song to myself, I had forgotten the words to this particular song though I recalled it from a children's movie about a girl who was a delivery witch.
Rachel ran a red light and the oncoming headlights were there for a moment before the world shattered into chaos. The chilling sound of ripping metal and breaking glass hit with a screeching of tires and a series of screams, the briefest vision of a figure in white, then nothing.
~~O~~
"Where do you suppose she came from?" I heard a man ask, I didn't open my eyes. I had a splitting head ache and felt nauseous. A deep voice of an older man answered the first.
"I am not sure, it is clear some magic brought her here though it was nothing of my doing I assure you." I was confused by the older man's words, magic? There was no such thing. I groaned and opening my eyes I was blinded by a golden light. Closing them immediately I slowly opened them a fraction to let them adjust to the bright light of an afternoon sun. Two men stood over me one looked to be about forty with long black hair and the other was an old man with a great grey beard.
"Ah you are awake," The older man said with a smile. "Child, do you remember how you got here?" I frowned and pushed myself up to a sitting position and wavered slightly putting my hand on my head trying to steady myself.
"No, I was going to the arcade and bumper cars then light and a lot of noise… I can't remember…" I trailed off looking around me, taking in the strange architecture of the building I was in and the strange way the two men were dressed I was confused, no one dressed in velvet robes and no one wore their hair so long. "Where… where am I?" I asked unable to hide the sudden fear in my voice.
"You have no reason to fret. You are safe in Imladris." The younger of the two spoke; now that I looked at him I realized how critically he was sizing me up in that moment. I wondered if he expected something remarkable to surface once I was awake that would put me on an equal level with Rachel's looks. Wait, where was Rachel?
"Where are Rachel and Duncan?" I asked, I didn't remember what exactly happened but I knew I had last been with them.
"You were alone when you arrived. Do you truly not remember how you got here?" The younger of the two asked. I shook my head; the younger man nodded slightly and continued to explain.
"We were in the middle of a council when you appeared in a flash of light and fell on several of the council members."
"Oh my god, I didn't hurt anyone did I?" I asked realizing that if I fell on people then I could have hurt them. Where I was falling from or how I came through a flash of light confused the heck out of me, none of it made any sense and I was certain that I was in a rather weird dream.
"No, you did not hurt anyone. Though is it a normal occurrence for you to fall on people? You seem rather at ease with the idea." The older man asked.
"Well no. I never go anywhere high enough to fall on someone. I would just feel really bad if I had hurt someone. I'm sorry. I am just really confused and I don't know where I am. I have never heard of Imladris, I've lost my friends and my applications are due next week and my head is splitting." I said running my hand through my hair. The two exchanged a look then the bearded man spoke.
"I apologize it seems we have forgotten our manors. I am Gandalf the grey, and this is Lord Elrond of Rivendell. What is your name?" The sudden change in attitude was odd they apparently had come to some consensus through the look and now were on a different train of thought.
"I'm Senia." I said warily, I didn't know why they suddenly cared about who I was. It made sense that they wanted to know how I got there, hell I wanted to know how I got here too.
"Lady Senia you should rest you did hit your head when you fell. Which is perhaps the reason your head is 'splitting'? Food will be brought for you later, for now rest." Elrond said then he and Gandalf turned and left. As the younger man turned I noticed his ears were pointed, quickly I looked at Gandalf's ears unable to see them through the unruly grey hair. They departed leaving me in the bright room panicking. The guy had pointed ears. Where the hell was I and why were they having some strange costume party? I had to get out of here, I needed to find Rachel and Duncan and get the hell away from this place. The sky outside looked like late afternoon which meant that we had been separated at least ten hours. If we had been kidnapped our time was quickly running out for being found. I recalled a show I had seen on dateline about most kidnappings that if not solved in the first forty eight hours never got solved.
It wasn't until I swung my legs out to the side of the impossibly large bed that I realized my clothing had changed. I was in a simple green dress with a skirt that was too long for my height. They had changed my clothes I realized with a chilling understanding that someone, probably the two men had seen me naked.
I got up off the bed and went around the room searching for a television or computer anything that could give me a clue as to where I was. In all my hours spent watching the travel channel I had never seen a place that looked remotely like the area outside the glassless windows.
Shelf after shelf there were only books in every table and dresser there was only paper and clothing. I didn't expect to find a television or computer but the realization that there was none made me panic even more. I nervously ran my hands through my hair, how the hell was I going to get away?
With no other ideas I went to the door and warily looked out. It wasn't locked which meant that they weren't worried that I would get away. As soon as I confirmed the hallway to be clear of people I edged my way out. Though I held the too long skirt of the dress up I was still tripping over it as I rushed down the hallway and through the twisting hallways.
Twice I came abruptly out of the hallway to a small court yard that served as a garden. I turned around again to go back down the hallway where I heard the voices of two men talking. In my haste I crawled through the dirt to hide under a bush.
"I'm telling you Pip, its strange business that girl falling on everyone in that flash of light." I listened to the first man speak to be answered by the other.
"Don't think we will ever see Strider so surprised again."
"She did fall right on the men, completely knocked Boromir over she did." Their voices soon faded and the area was quiet again. I waited for a moment before crawling out from under the bush I stood and saw a different exit to the court yard I had not noticed before. Picking up the long skirt I went through the arched door way and found myself in a hallway with a mural painted on the walls. Some man was holding a broken sword up to a big dark armored guy. I shrugged and saw the statue holding the platter on which the broken sword from the mural rested. I realized that it wasn't just a mural but a historical painting and turning back I looked for any sign of a place I might know.
"You really shouldn't be wandering around; it is very easy to get lost." A man said from behind me. I didn't even look behind me to see who it was but ran. "Wait! I'm not going to hurt you!" The man called out and started after me. There was a reason I never wore a dress, and the curse of tripping over air struck at the worst possible time. I went sprawling hitting my elbow painfully on the stone. The man stopped next to me and grabbed me under my arms and picked me up off the stone floor. I struggled as soon as I got my feet under me.
"Please calm down, I won't hurt you. I promise." He held me by my shoulders and I took a moment to look at the face of the man who held me. He had dark hair that was to his jawline with critical grey eyes, he looked to be in his late thirties. Though he was dressed oddly I was relieved to see he was not wearing the costume pointed ears.
"Please let me go." I said as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. The man looked confused and said.
"What is it you are afraid of? No one here will hurt you." He let me go tentatively trying to show he was not going to harm me.
"You guys kidnapped me, I don't know where I am and I just want to go home."
"Were you not told? You fell on the council through a flash of light. No one knows where you came from."
"But, but if that actually happened, how am I supposed to get home?" I knew it was pointless to cry though he was the third person to tell me that I fell on some council in a flash of light. I didn't think that kidnappers would put so much effort into a story like that when they already had me captive. I was panicked and scared so I did what most girls who were completely lost and frightened did. I cried.
"It will be alright, we will find a way to get you home. Calm down." The man said as he looked slightly unsure how to react to my sudden tears. "Here, why not sit down for a moment?" He gestured back towards where the statue holding the broken sword was and I nodded slightly trying to fight back my tears as he lead me to the bench.
"My name is Aragorn, what is yours?" He said sitting next to me. I rubbed tears away and looked at Aragorn and said with a shaky voice.
"Senia." Aragorn gave me a comforting smile and said.
"Well Senia you must come from a distant land, I have never heard a name such as yours before. Where is it you are from?"
"Chicago. Where are we?"
"This is the elven city Rivendell. I have never heard of Chicago is it across the sea?" I must have had a look of utter confusion on my face because Aragorn went on explaining. "Rivendell is a haven for the elves. It is ruled by Lord Elrond. I believe you've already met him." I was about to ask Aragorn another question when a woman with long tresses of black hair walked up to us, her silent approach startled me as she was suddenly there. She smiled warmly at me then said.
"I am sorry to interrupt your conversation, my father wishes to speak to you." She turned her gaze on me as she said this and I saw her pointed ears. I was not completely certain she was actually an elf as Aragorn said. "If you will come with me I will take you to him." She said offering me her hand like I was a child. Though with how I had been acting I felt like I child. Not taking her hand I stood and looked at Aragorn who made no mood to follow.
"Arwen's father is Elrond. Do not worry you are completely safe in Rivendell." I nodded awkwardly and turned back to the taller woman and followed feeling a little foolish.
We walked for a while with an awkward silence that made me uneasy.
"I'm sorry." I blurted out suddenly not entirely sure why I was apologizing to this woman I didn't even know.
"Whatever for?" She asked looking down at me, which only succeeded in making me feel even more like a child.
"I over reached when I woke up…" To this she laughed lightly and said with a smile in her tone.
"Do not apologize, you were scared and have, from what my father has told me, lost some friends."
"I don't know what happened to them, we were all together last I remember, but I guess I blacked out or something because the only thing after being with them was a bright light and waking up with Elrond and Gandalf standing next to the bed I was in."
"I do believe that is what my father wises to talk with you about." Arwen said stopping outside a doorway she turned to look back at me and added. "Regardless of what you speak to my father about, know that you are welcome in Rivendell for however long you wish to stay."
"Thank you Arwen. I don't know if I will stay but it is nice to know I can." I gave her a halfhearted smile and went through the doorway she stood next to.
I entered into a warmly lit library and sitting room combination. I wasn't sure if it was one or the other as the walls were lined with bookshelves that were filled with a variety of books and scrolls. In the center of the room before the fireplace was a wooden table stacked with scrolls and papers. Next to the table stood Elrond who gave a small gesture towards the table and said.
"Senia, I apologize that our behavior frightened you. It was not the intent you must understand."
"No I do. Though I feel like I should be the one apologizing." I said feeling even more awkward as I glanced down at the table the papers that were unrolled and held with small carved stones displayed maps. Though they weren't like any maps that I had ever seen as they only marked forests, mountains, rivers, and towns. Where were the roads?
"I have to wonder though, how much do you know about the council you appeared in?" I looked up from the maps to Elrond and replied.
"Well, nothing really. I mean I heard two men talking about how I fell on Boromir, and someone named Strider being surprised. Then I ran into a guy named Aragorn who was there too." I could have sworn for a moment Elrond smiled though the expression was so fleeting I couldn't be sure.
"Indeed you did fall on Boromir. Though I don't believe Aragorn was the only one surprised when you appeared in thin air. Your clothing was rather…unusual for many of them. That is why you were changed. Fret not it was my daughter who changed your clothes. This was also found in one of the pockets of your trousers." Elrond held out his hand and in the middle of his palm sat the pocket knife my late brother gave me a week before his death. I hadn't even remembered that I had it with me when I suddenly appeared here. The sight of it nearly brought me to tears; I took it and said to Elrond.
"This means more to me than you could ever know." I idly flipped the blade out hearing the familiar click as it locked into place. Elrond gave it a curious glance.
"I did not sense any magic in the item, what spell causes the blade to become part of the hilt?"
"Oh, it's not magic. The blade is on a hinge like what is used for doors. So you can flip it out. The blade locks in place with a piece of metal that is bent slightly and it fits in under the bottom of the blade keeping it from going back into the handle. You just move the metal aside when you want to put the blade away." I smiled fondly at the blade and with a click returned the blade to its resting spot in the handle.
"Intriguing, such a mundane way to create something fantastic." Elrond said as he watched me clip the knife to the thin belt that I wore. "Though we should return to the more pressing matters. Can you tell me where on the map you are from? I am sure you have family awaiting you." I looked down at the maps and took the weights off the main map that was on the table and it rolled up on its own. I pushed it aside and looked at another map that showed a more eastern region on the other side of an area called Mordor. Again I let it roll up and opened another one, each map I went through not one looked remotely like the United States. I frowned and looking up at Elrond asked.
"Are these all the maps you have?"
"I am afraid so." I frowned and took a map labeled Middle Earth and pointed to the north.
"What is up here?"
"To the north of Middle Earth is the homeland of the elves."
"And to the west?" I said moving my finger to the sea west of a land called the Shire.
"Even I do not know."
"Then my home isn't anywhere that you could get me to." I said giving the map a once over though I knew I wouldn't see anything new.
"I am sorry Senia. You seem like a girl who has an honest heart. It grieves me that I cannot return you to your home."
"It isn't your fault Elrond." I sighed; I suppose I would have to take Arwen up on her offer to stay in Rivendell.
"I do not believe that you came here by chance. Perhaps you have some part to play in events to come." I smiled and looked at the elf lord and with a tone that contradicted my smile said.
"My father used to always say things like that. 'Things happen for a reason, even if we might not understand or like it.' That's what he would say. I guess in this case he is right… The council that I appeared in, what was it about?"
"It was to discuss what to do about the threat of Mordor. The ring of power has been found and must be destroyed in order to rid the world of the evil of Sauron forever."
"What is so important about this ring though? Why do you have the destroy it?"
"Sauron forged the ring in the fires of Mount Doom. Into this ring he put part of his soul, with it he the power to cover the whole of Middle Earth in darkness. If we destroy the ring, we destroy Sauron."
"So he split his soul and put part of it into this ring? If you can stay alive forever that way I guess it is kind of useful. I mean if you aren't an elf, you guy's live forever right?" I didn't really expect an answer to any of the questions I gave Elrond but the look he gave me made me think I said something wrong.
"Elves are long lived by birth; we are born with the grace of the Valar. To attempt to extend your years through splitting the soul is an abomination of nature."
"Hmm, I don't really know anything about such things. High school doesn't teach you about elves or magic. They only care about math and making sure people can read." I smiled at the memory of having to help the other seniors, especially Rachel, in math. While I took Calculus most of the seniors opted to take Statistics which was simpler though they swore it was hard. It took a confused look from Elrond to get me back on track. "So… how did the council decide to get rid of the ring?"
"It must be taken to the fires from whence it came and cast back into the flames. The only place it can be destroyed is in the fires of Mount Doom. A fellowship is taking the ring to Mordor to destroy it."
"That is going to be a dangerous mission." I mused my mind was still going a mile a minute and though I had become used to the idea that Elrond thought of himself as an elf and that everyone dressed like they came from a Renfest, I hadn't any clue where I would go or what I was going to even do. "Arwen said I could stay here in Rivendell, but I don't want to be a burden. I just don't know what I am going to do."
"Senia, you appeared during the council, if it is a sign then it is a clear one. You have some part to play in the fate of the ring, perhaps your place is with the fellowship."
"You mean go and destroy the ring?"
"If you wish to go, no one will force you to." Elrond said, I got the distinct feeling that he was afraid I though he was trying to get rid of me. Honestly I was unsure if I wanted to go on some dangerous mission with a group of people I didn't know.
"Who is this fellowship? Well that's not the right question; um would I know anyone who is part of this group?"
"You would know Gandalf, and Aragorn. Aside from Aragorn and Gandalf there is Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo." I didn't respond to Elrond's answer at first, I gave it some thought before I responded. Honestly I wasn't sure if I wanted to go on some mission to defeat some evil guy who split his soul and put it in a ring. It seemed like a dangerous plan and I wasn't sure what we would face as we traveled to Mordor. Though where else did I have to go? I wasn't going to stay at Rivendell indefinitely and I refused to take advantage of Elrond's hospitality. Though, I somehow felt that I wasn't going to make it home in time to submit my college applications.
"When are they leaving?"
(Here is chapter one of Temperance, not too much happened I know but it is the first chapter of a new story. I find as I go through and work on my stories that I become a better writer with each new story. While I like my other stories I admit that they are not as good as they could be. So I while writing this story I plan on taking more time with each chapter to make them better. I am also going to try for an average of 4000 words per chapter so people have a bit more to read at a time. I know that when I read stories I always end up miffed because the chapters are so short and the author's note/ replies to reviews take up so much of the chapter. So I hope that you will stick with me through this story and review, feel free to tell me your thoughts on the characters and how I am doing.)