Chapter One
A/N: This is my first LotR fic, and my first real story so I'm naturally quite nervous. I would really appreciate reviews, and any feedback is gladly welcomed.
The crowd erupted in applause as she bowed and exited the stage. From offstage, she could hear the crowd continuing to cheer, and she walked back on, bowing once more before making her final exit. Anna remembered when the applause and cheers would have made her heart swell, but now she felt numb inside. She waited until the theater cleared out before walking back to the piano onstage to retrieve her music, and exchanged a few pleasantries with the janitor before leaving. She buttoned up her coat and wrapped her scarf tightly around her, cursing herself for not remembering to bring a change of shoes for the harsh cold outside.
She walked toward the edge of the curb to hail a cab, burrowing into her scarf to escape the cold. Finally a cab pulled over, and as she walked towards it, one of her heels broke, sending her crashing towards the concrete. She stood up slowly, picking up her broken shoe, and cursed at the pain in her ankle, knowing it was most likely sprained. After climbing in the cab she gave the driver her address, and sat in silence all the way back. Her mind flashed back over the past year, how empty her life had been, when only a year and a half ago she would have called herself a happy person. She remembered how it had started, first with the subtle manipulation, the isolation, and then the beatings. She closed her eyes, trying to think of anything to make the horrible thoughts leave her head. One she arrived, she unlocked the door to the small apartment, climbed into her pajamas, and clicked on the TV as she iced her ankle. She sipped her tea and pulled up her blanket around her and began to drift off.
She heard an unfamiliar voice, interrupting her futile attempt to sleep. She shifted a bit, assuming it was just the TV becoming louder as she fell asleep.
Suddenly, Anna was woken up, her heart pounding. She looked around, eyes wide. She found herself on the ground, surrounded by forest. She also noticed that she seemed to be in some sort of outdoor courtyard, with elegantly carved statues, beautiful fountains, and stone benches. Multicolored leaves covered the ground she was still lying flat on her back on. Luckily, she didn't feel like she had hit her head. The most noticeable thing, however, was a large man towering over her. She cowered at first, before seeing the man offer her his hand to help her up. She ignored it and stood on her own, trying to ignore the pain throbbing in her ankle, still looking around her in wonder. Finally she let her gaze rest on the man in front of her, who had a remarkably puzzled look on his face. He was at least a good foot taller than her, with dark hair and soft grey eyes. The first thing that threw her off about him however was his clothes. He wore a dark red tunic with what looked like a curved horn on his belt, and, even more alarming, a large sword that was most definitely real. He also carried a massive shield across his back.
Utterly confused, and having lost the ability to speak, she found that she had been silently gaping at the man for what had to be at least a good few minutes, and he, as well as two others, were looking at her just as baffled. Finally she was able to muster out a few words.
"Where am I, and more importantly, who – who are you?"
The man looked confused before answering her. "You are in Rivendell, in the house of Elrond."
Those names sounded familiar to her, but in her confused state, she couldn't think of where she had heard them before.
"To answer your second question, my name is Boromir."
She had definitely heard that name before, but she still couldn't place it.
A/N: That was the first chapter, I know it was short, only because it's the opening. Anyway, please let me know what you think!